Category : Assault

Pro-Christian Activist Lawyer Arrested for Juvenile Sexual Criminal Activity

 

Pro-Christian Activist Lawyer Arrested for Juvenile Sexual Criminal Activity

Lisa Biron, a New Hampshire lawyer, who was arrested by the FBI in November 2012 and charged with transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, possession of child pornography and five counts of sexual exploitation of children, has been found guilty by a jury on January 10, 2013. She faces a 25 year sentence.

What lead to her arrest was a tip that Manchester police received from a man who reported he saw pornography on Lisa Biron’s computer. After obtaining a search warrant for her home, police found pornographic materials on her computer, which included pedophilia. Prosecutors allege that Biron took a teenage girl from Manchester to Ontario, Canada, on May 25 and forced her to engage in sexual acts with men, while Biron made a video recording.  It turned out later that the girl was Ms. Biron’s 14 year old daughter. Biron also videotaped herself having sex with her daughter.

Two witnesses also claimed they had seen Biron in possession of illegal drugs including cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana, as well as being involved in similar incidents with other juveniles who have been subjected to having sex.

Ms. Biron is part of an anti-gay Christian lawyers’ movement and pro-Christian activist. She is also on the board of directors at Mount Zion Christian School in Manchester.

Child Pornography and Related Penalties and Sentences

Under Section 649-B:3, computer child pornography is prohibited in New Hampshire.

“I. No person shall knowingly:
(a) Compile, enter into, or transmit by means of computer;
(b) Make, print, publish, or reproduce by other computerized means;
(c) Cause or allow to be entered into or transmitted by means of computer; or
(d) Buy, sell, receive, exchange, or disseminate by means of computer, any notice, statement, or advertisement, or any minor’s name, telephone number, place of residence, physical characteristics, or other descriptive or identifying information,
for purposes of facilitating, encouraging, offering, or soliciting sexual conduct of or with any child, or the visual depiction of such conduct.”

Any person who violates this section can be charged with a Class B felony.

Under Section 649-A:3 possession of child sexual abuse images is illegal.

“ I. No person shall knowingly:
(a) Buy, procure, possess, or control any visual representation of a child engaging in sexually explicit conduct; or
(b) Bring or cause to be brought into this state any visual representation of a child engaging in sexually explicit conduct.”

Any person who violates this section can be charged with a Class A felony offense.

Prosecutors in New Hampshire take child pornography and sex crimes involving minors quite serious. The laws are strict. If you are convicted for child pornography or other sexual offenses involving minors in New Hampshire, you are subject to prison time, fines and having to register as a sex offender. It may be difficult for you to find a job or housing once you have served your sentence.

Hiring a New Hampshire Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you are charged with a child sex abuse, child pornography or other sex crimes in New Hampshire, it is extremely important to hire a New Hampshire criminal defense attorney immediately to represent you.  Your criminal defense attorney will carefully review all the evidence against you, hire expert witnesses to testify at trial and mount a vigorous defense on your behalf. Your attorney will negotiate with the prosecutor to try to get your charges reduced to a lesser crime so you don’t have to register as a sex offender, get you alternative sentencing or get the case closed for lack of sufficient evidence or because false allegations were brought against you if case details allow.

 

Internet Sex Crime

 

 

 

 

 

 

26 Men arrested in connection with Internet Sex Crimes

A Lake County Florida sheriff’s Cyber Crimes detective announced the arrest of 26 men in connection with traveling for sexual activity with a child. Working together with an Internet task force of other law enforcements agencies, the operation known as  “Operation: Take Two,” which occurred during the time period July 23 through July 29 in a vacant home in the Tavares, Florida area resulted in the arrests of the 26 men. Detectives posted as children or guardians of children in online chat rooms. When they were solicited for unlawful sexual activity, they arranged for the alleged suspects to meet. Suspects were then taken into custody. The men arrested in connection with the crime range in ages from 19 to 69. The detectives also seized four vehicles in connection with the arrests.

Prefile Case

A prefile case investigation involving an Internet Sex crime should be taken seriously. It can ruin your life whether you hold a high profile government or corporate position, are a person of notoriety or are just an ordinary citizen.  A prefile case is when a person is under suspicion and investigation by law enforcement or a prosecuting agency prior to formal charges being filed against them for a matter such as an Internet sex offense. If you are being questioned or intimidated by law enforcement officers regarding the investigation of an alleged Internet sex crime, even if you did not commit the crime, the investigation means you may be considered a suspect or a lead in a crime. It is recommended that you seek the advice of a criminal defense attorney immediately.
Penalties    

Internet sex crimes include the following:

•    Possession and/or distribution of child pornography
•    Solicitation of a minor in a chat room
•    Use of a web cam offense
•    Attempted sexual contact with a minor child
•    Child endangerment
•    Stalking
•    Other related offenses

While Internet sex crimes can involve minors or adults, prosecutors take cases involving child pornography or solicitation of minors much more seriously. For instance, you could be charged with a third degree felony in Florida for downloading child pornography, or a first degree felony for producing or promoting child pornography and face a prison sentence between 5 to 13 years. A felony conviction for solicitation of a minor in a chat room could get you a minimum 21 month to a maximum 5 year prison sentence, a fine up to $5,000 and 5 years of sex offender probation. A conviction for lewd conduct for exposing yourself on the Internet with no physical contact with the victim, you could be charged with a second degree felony if you are over the age of 18 and a third degree felony if you are under the age of 18 years. Convictions for Internet sex crimes also may require you to register as sex offender for life and make it harder for you to find a job or a place to live.

Hiring a Florida Criminal Defense Attorney

If you are under investigation or suspicion for an Internet Sex crime or facing charges for such an offense, you should contact a Florida criminal defense attorney at once to represent you. Imhoff & Associates –Criminal Attorneys understand the severity and implications of being suspected in a prefile Internet sex offense matter. Your Imhoff criminal defense lawyer will investigate the evidence against you by speaking with investigators/prosecutors handing the matter to determine whether they have sufficient evidence to charge you and try to get the prefile investigation closed, saving you the stress and embarrassment of an arrest.  If you have already been charged with an Internet sex crime, the attorney will negotiate with the prosecutor to get your charges reduced to a lesser crime, get your probation, community service or get the case closed

Internet Sex Crime – Pre-file

 

Internet Sex Offenses in Florida

An online prostitution investigation was conducted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Department undercover detectives from August 24, 2012 through August 30, 2012, resulting in 89 suspects being arrested, including the principal of Kathleen High School, Cecil Edward McClellan. According to police, McClellan agreed to pay undercover detective money in exchange for sex. He was subsequently arrested when he arrived at the hotel wearing a Kathleen High School football shirt. Another suspected arrested in the case was 39 year old Glen Kershaw from  Orlando, Florida who was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex, attempted sexual battery on a minor under 12, use of computer to entice a guardian, and unlawful use of two-way communication.

The remaining suspects were charged with crimes ranging from solicitation of prostitution, offering to commit prostitution, deriving proceeds from prostitution, aiding and abetting prostitution traveling to meet a minor for sex, drug charges and battery on a law enforcement officer.

Sheriff Grady Judd was quoted as saying “Prostitution is illegal and those who commit or who derive proceeds from this crime in Polk County can expect to go to jail. The negative social costs of prostitution hurt families, children and communities. Whether it is on the street, or online, it is illegal and we will continue to investigate and arrest those involved in prostitution.”

 

What is a Prefile Internet Sex Case?

A prefile case occurs when someone is under investigation for an Internet sex crime, but has not been arrested or charged yet. Even if you are not guilty of committing the crime, you still could be considered a lead suspect or person of interest.  It is important to seek legal advice from a Florida criminal defense attorney during the investigation to help avoid prosecutors from charging you with an Internet sex offense.  The attorney will talk to the prosecutor to find out what evidence they have against you and help clear up any misunderstandings or false accusations and also make sure that police are not planning on engaging in any kind of entrapment tactics against you.

 

Charges and Penalties

Facing charges for an Internet sex crime in Florida is serious, especially when a minor is involved.  Internet sex crimes may include the following types of crimes:

• Possession or distribution of Internet child pornography
• Online solicitation of a minor for sex whether consensual or not
• Luring of a minor in a chat room
• Conducting an online escort/prostitution service
• Sending or receiving nude photos by teenagers using a cell phone

 

Penalties:

Third degree felony for downloading child pornography or a first degree felony for producing or promoting child pornography.

Solicitation of a minor in a chat room -a  minimum 21 month to a maximum 5 year prison sentence, a fine up to $5,000 and 5 years of sex offender probation if convicted.

Second degree felony if over the age of 18 or a third degree felony if under the age of 18 for lewd conduct for exposing yourself on the Internet with no physical contact with the victim.

Prison sentences between 5 and 13 years and fines up to $5,000, sex offender probation and registration as a sex offender for life.  A conviction could also mean that it may be difficult for you to find a job or place to live.

 

Hiring a Florida Criminal Defense Attorney

If you are being investigated or considered a suspect in a pre-file Internet sex case, or you have been charged with an Internet sex offense in Florida, you should hire a Florida criminal defense attorney immediately. Imhoff & Associates –Criminal Attorneys understand how serious being accused of an Internet sex crime can be, and we will use all resources available to try and get the prefile investigation closed. If charges have already been filed against you, we will raise strong affirmative defenses such as entrapment, mistaken identity or that you had no intention of engaging in sex in order to get the charges reduced, get your probation, community service or get your case dismissed.

Pennsylvania Child Sex Abuse Laws and Penn State Sex Abuse Scandal

Sex crimes of all nature, especially child sex abuse crimes, are considered very serious crimes in Pennsylvania. Under Pennsylvania Statutes Sections 3121-3130, you could be charged with the most serious felony crimes of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, institutional sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, or misdemeanor charges for indecent assault, indecent exposure, sexual intercourse with an animal or conduct relating to sex offenders. Prosecutors vigorously try these cases and courts are harsh on sentencing convicted sex offenders involving sex crimes against children. Prison sentences for the most serious sex felony crime convictions are lengthy ranging from maximum minimum 10 year sentences to 40 years for crimes involving rape and multiple deviate sexual intercourse charges involving minors, especially minors under 13 years of age and fines up to $100,000. Convicted sex offenders must register on the state sex offender registry after serving their sentences, which could affect where you can live and may affect other aspects of your life such as employment. Even if you are not accused of these offenses, you can still be charged with failing to report serious sex crimes to law enforcement and also be subject to perjury charges if you lie under oath about not having knowledge of such crimes.

Case Example

Former Penn State football defensive coordinator and assistant football coach Gerald “Jerry” Sandusky was arrested on November 5, 2011, accused of child sex abuse crimes involving eight boys over a time span of approximately 10 years. He was released on a $100,000 bond after the arraignment on 40 criminal counts according to the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. Charges include seven felony counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, corruption of minors, endangering the welfare of a child, indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor, single counts of aggravated indecent assault and attempted indecent assault. Sandusky is facing up to 20 years in prison for the seven felony counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse alone besides additional sentences for other charges if he is convicted. Mr. Sandusky denies the charges. Penn State athletic director Tim Curley, 57, and the University’s vice president for finance and business as well as having responsibility for overseeing the University Police Department, Gary Schultz, 62, have been charged with perjury and failing to report information they had regarding the sex abuse allegations.

At one time, Mr. Sandusky was considered to be a likely replacement for the legendary Joe Paterno, Penn State’s head coach position, prior to his retirement in 1999. After retiring from Penn State, Mr. Sandusky continued his work with at-risk-children through his non-profit organization Second Mile, which he founded in 1977. All of the victims in the case are alleged to have initially come into contact with Mr. Sandusky through his Second Mile organization. In 1999, Mr. Sandusky was banned from the Clinton County school district after the mother of an approximate 11 or 12 year old boy at the time reported to the high school that her son received expensive gifts and trips to sporting events and reported to her that he had been sexually assaulted by Mr. Sandusky during an overnight stay at his house. These charges triggered the State’s investigation into Mr. Sandusky’s current alleged sexual abuse charges.

Other allegations by a graduate assistant, Mr. Kelly, took place in 2002 when he reported that he saw Mr. Sandusky sexually assaulting a naked boy approximately 10 years old in a locker room of the Lasch Football Building located on the campus. He and his father reported the incident to Mr. Paterno, who then reported it to Mr. Curley, but it was not reported to any law enforcement agencies or Child Protective Service Agencies as required under Pennsylvania Law. Mr. Paterno has not been charged with any wrongdoing in the case according to prosecutors. Mr. Curley testified that he banned Mr. Sandusky from bringing any children onto the campus and that he reported the matter to Penn State President Graham Spanier. Mr. Sandusky was no longer coaching at Penn State during this time.

On November 9, 2011, Joe Paterno announced he was retiring at the end of the season, but the University made the decision to ask Paterno and President Spanier to leave effectively immediately, naming defensive coordinator Tom Bradley as the interim coach and provost Rodney Erickson as interim University President. With such a major scandal for a school that has maintained one of the most pristine images in college sports and one of four major schools that have never been found guilty of any major violations by the NCAA, this is a devastating blow. With the school’s reputation at stake, the University has hired their own investigator, former FBI director Louis Freeh, to conduct an independent investigation regarding the Sandusky child sex abuse allegations.

Hire an Attorney

If you are accused or charged with Pennsylvania sex crimes involving minors or other related sex offenses, these are very serious charges and require the assistance of a Pennsylvania Criminal Sexual Offense Attorney to defend you. The attorney understands the Pennsylvania laws and can aggressively defend you by interviewing witnesses and may be able to convince authorities and prosecutors to drop or dismiss charges against you, or in some cases, avoid charges from being filed against you if were falsely accused. The attorney may also be able to get charges filed against you reduced to a lesser crime such as indecent exposure or get you community service or probation.

California Designer Convicted of Sexual Assault

A Beverly Hills fashion designer has just been found guilty of multiple counts of sexual assault that could result in him receiving a lifetime prison sentence. Anand Jon Alexander, 34, has been convicted of raping seven females, ranging in age from 14 to 21 years old. These sexual crimes occurred over a six-year span from 2002 to 2007.

While Alexander originally faced 23 felony charges, he was ultimately convicted of 16 counts, including:

• Forcible rape
• Sexual assault
• Battery

In addition to being known for his role on “America’s Next Top Model,” Alexander is also credited with designing for many popular celebrities, including Paris Hilton and Norah Jones.

The Trial and Evidence

Over two months of trial, prosecutors presented evidence of Alexander’s criminal activities, which included:

• Beating and, in some cases, drugging women before he raped them.
• Tricking females into coming back to his apartment by claiming that he wanted them to model for his clothing line.

As evidence, prosecutors (led by District Attorney Frances Young) called on nine of the female victims to testify.

While Alexander’s high-priced criminal defense attorneys tried to discredit the victims’ testimonies by claiming that they were lying to defame the defendant, the consistencies of the victims’ statements were enough to sway the jury and result in multiple convictions.

Sentencing and Further Trials

The sentencing phase of Alexander’s trial is scheduled to occur Jan. 13, 2009 at the Los Angeles Superior Courthouse.

However, Alexander’s recent convictions and pending sentencing in California are only the start of a series of trials this convict will face, as he has also been indicted in New York on nine other rape and sexual assault charges.

Similarly, Texas authorities in the Dallas area are still investigating allegations against Alexander. This investigation is also likely to result in another trial for Alexander.

(Source: Los Angeles Times, The Herald Sun)

Are You Facing Criminal Charges? If so, contact us today to talk to an experienced criminal law attorney who will provide you with the legal support you need to get your charges reduced, if not dropped altogether.

Los Angeles Cop Faces Sexual Assault Charges

An officer of the Los Angeles Police Department has recently been indicted on one misdemeanor charge, as well as three felony counts, for a series of sexual offenses he allegedly committed last year.

Officer Russell Mecano, 40, will be officially arraigned Dec.12 for:

• Misdemeanor solicitation
• Felony charges for sexual battery
• Felony charges for penetration with a foreign object by a public worker
• Felony charges for penetration of a foreign object via duress

If convicted on all counts, Mecano faces as much as 12 years in a California state prison.

Details of Mecano’s Crimes

1. May 28, 2007: According to prosecutors, Mecano allegedly blackmailed an 18-year old female, telling her that he would not arrest her for possession of drug paraphernalia (she was arrested with a marijuana pipe) if she would have sex with him. After sexually assaulting this woman behind a public library, authorities allege that Mecano then told the woman to meet him at a nearby motel.

Detectives didn’t elaborate on whether the woman complied or whether Mecano subsequently sexually assaulted her at another location.

2. October 2008: During this incident, Mecano allegedly blackmailed a 20-year old vagrant female for sex. According to police, Mecano told the woman he wouldn’t arrest her on battery charges if she would meet him at a nearby motel and have sex with him. Mecano supposedly gave the female about $200.

Rather than meet him at the motel, the woman hailed a cab and went to a neighboring city’s police department to report the crime.

Evidence Against Mecano

In addition to the victims’ testimony, prosecutors also have a number of cell phone records that confirm some of the details of these crimes.

Although further evidence will likely be presented in trial, Mecano has yet to confirm his innocence or his role in these incidents. Mecano’s claim to innocence or guilt is expected to be announced at his arraignment next month.

(Source: Los Angeles Times)

Are you in need of a criminal defense attorney? If so, contact us today to talk to an experienced professional who will provide you with the legal support you need to ensure your rights are protected.

Boston Man Files Suit Against City

A man who was wrongly convicted of a sexual assault crime and spent seven years as a registered sex offender, after being released from prison, was recently proved innocent.

The innocent victim is now filing a suit against the city for the ten years he wrongly spent behind bars.

Innocent Man Convicted

Guy Randolph, 50, was convicted of indecently assaulting a little girl and battery in 1991 and spent 10 years in jail for his supposed crimes.

After being released from jail and returning to his Hyde Park neighborhood, Randolph was registered as a convicted sex offender and the community branded him as an outcast.

Randolph and his mother were even told they weren’t allowed to be approved for public housing in the city.

Justice Served

In May, a Superior Court judge exonerated him after the district attorney’s office acknowledged his innocence.

His name was immediately taken off the Sex Offender Registry and the picture of him that hung in the Boston police station for years was finally removed.

Lawsuit Filed

Randolph has filed a suit against the city and is hoping to be compensated for all the time he lost while being in prison.

"I feel as though Guy deserves compensation" says his 74-year-old mother, who he lives with. "It’s owed to him. There are lots of things he missed out on."

(Source: The Boston Globe)

Have you or someone you know been accused of a crime you didn’t commit? If so, please contact us to speak with an experienced attorney who will evaluate your case and ensure that you receive the compensation you need and deserve.

Sacramento Falsely Reporting

ANTELOPE: A woman from Antelope, California might face criminal charges after confessing to Sheriff’s Department detectives that she told lies about being the victim of a sexual assault, and even fabricated a crime scene.

Woman Claimes She Was Sexually Assaulted in Home Burglary

This woman, 29 years old, told officers that she arrived home on September 17th to find two males burglarizing her home on Pepperidge Drive. According to Sergeant Tim Curran, the woman claimed that one of the men fled the scene but the other sexually assaulted her.

Inconsistencies in Victim’s Story and Evidence

Sergeant Curran could see multiple inconsistencies between the victim’s story and the available physical evidence. He claimed about the detectives, “A lot of it was just their instincts the day of the incident,” and “They had some questions in their minds and things just never added up.”

Woman Falsely Reports Crime

In a follow up interview, this woman admitted that she lied about the burglary and sexual assault, as well as her involvement in staging the crime scene. It is possible that this woman will be charged with Falsely Reporting a Crime, a misdemeanor in the State of California.