18 USC Sec. 2423 is a federal law that criminalizes the transportation of minors – people who have not attained the age of 18 – for the purpose of prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense. So, for instance, if the defendant brings the person…
Can I record a call? It depends. If you are not a party to the call, then the answer is “no,” unless you’ve obtained consent from one or both parties to the call, or have a valid warrant. If you are a party to the call, then the answer is “it depends.” If you are…
Most child pornography cases are taken federally, meaning that if you are charged at the state level for exploiting children, at some point the federal government will likely seek to prosecute you. That’s in part because the penalties are much harsher in the federal system. 18 USC 2252A says that any person who knowingly mails,…
How does the federal government define the sexual exploitation of children? The answer is, extremely broadly. Because the federal constitution restricts the federal government’s powers, the federal government may only regulate sexual exploitation that touches upon interstate commerce. But because photographs, images, or other depictions of children in sexually suggestive poses may be easily transmitted…
MySpace, Facebook, Social Networking… all the kids are doing the social networking thing these days. Twittering too! A lot of adults also use these tools, including LinkedIn and on and on. They’re fun, they’re great ways to keep in touch with friends, to reconnect with old friends, and to share what’s going on in your…
You can be arrested in one of three scenarios: 1. You can be arrested if a judge or magistrate, upon presentation of allegations by the police, issues an arrest warrant that tells the police to take you into custody. 2. You can also be arrested without an arrest warrant if the police have reasonable grounds…
If you’re charged with a DUI in Wake County – Raleigh, Apex, Cary, or the other towns in the county – you have one of two options. To agree to plea to the DUI charge, and accept all of the consequences – license suspended for a year (with some possible limited driving privileges), alcohol or…
There are a ton of excellent criminal defense attorneys in Raleigh, Cary, and Apex, NC. The Wake County Public Defender is also staffed by excellent attorneys. But you’re only qualified for a public defender if you are ruled indigent (another word for “poor”) by a judge. If you’re ruled indigent, then you will be assigned…
As I’ve written elsewhere, finding an attorney can take some time and effort. It’s important to take that time and invest that effort in order to find the right lawyer to handle a case. In addition to asking friends and family for recommendations, here’s a tip. Ask attorneys. If you sit down for an initial consultation…