Atlanta Internet Sex Crimes Attorney
Protect your future and your reputation by working with an experienced attorney
When it comes to laws regulating internet sex crimes, Georgia's are some of
the harshest in the nation. Because no one state has jurisdiction over
internet activities, internet sex crimes are prosecuted as both state and
federal crimes, which means double the penalties. Convicted parties face
court fines, imprisonment, or both. Immediate consequences are nothing
compared to the long-term consequences of a conviction, however, which may
entail having to register as a sex offender, being ostracized from
community and family, and inability to obtain gainful employment.
If you are under investigation for an internet sex crime, or if you have
been charged with an internet sex crime, it is crucial that you retain the
help of an aggressive criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. The
longer you have to build a viable defense, the better your odds of
preventing irreparable damage to your career, your family, your reputation,
and your future. Call
Ghanayem & Rayasam
today to learn more about how we can help you.
Common Types of Internet Sex Crimes
With the internet as it is today, sex crimes are not only possible to
commit over the internet – they are also plentiful. Below are just five of
the most common types of internet sex crimes of which one can be found
guilty:
● Sextortion: Sextortion refers to the crime of using one's personal information to extort nude images and sexual favors via the internet. Sadly, perpetrators often target children.
● Sexting with a Minor: Sexting has been a major issue in the past and continues to be a major concern for law enforcement today, especially when minors are involved. If one is caught sexting or sending nudes or sexually explicit images to a minor or vice versa, one could be charged with child pornography.
● Importuning Solicitation: Importuning solicitation refers to the attempt by an adult individual to engage a minor in sexual activity of some type. If the attempt includes an offer for money in exchange for sexual pleasure, the adult individual may be charged with solicitation as well. Both importuning and solicitation are felony charges.
● Possession of Child Pornography: If a person downloads, looks at, or has in his or her digital possession images, videos, or computer generated images of an individual younger than 18 years of age that is "sufficiently sexually suggestive," that person can be charged with child pornography and subject to the relevant consequences.
Charges for Internet Sex Crimes in Georgia
Federal law almost always applies in cases involving internet sex crimes,
so it is difficult to say exactly what consequences one might face if
convicted without going into extensive detail. That said, we can inform you
of Georgia's punishments for some of the most common sex crimes. Per
16-12-100.2, if an individual partakes in an internet sex crime of
approaching or soliciting a minor via the internet for sexual purposes, he
or she may be convicted of a felony and be sentenced to no less than one
year and no more than 20 years in prison and a $25,000 penalty. Under the
same code, if an individual communicates with a minor or a person he or she
assumes to be a minor via the web regarding sexual matters, he or she also
faces felony charges, and a minimum sentence of one year to a maximum
sentence of 10 years. He or she may also have to pay a penalty of up to
$10,000. It is important to note that a minor can be convicted of a sex
crime in Georgia as well, depending on the age gap between the parties.
An Experienced Sex Crimes Lawyer is Prepared to Defend Your Reputation
If you were charged with an internet sex crime in Georgia, your future and
reputation may be at stake. You can protect both by contacting an
aggressive and knowledgeable Georgia internet sex crimes attorney as soon
as you learn of the charges. Call Ghanayem & Rayasam to schedule an
initial consultation, or contact us via our
online contact form
today.