INTERNET STALKING/SOLICITATION

Seattle Cyber Stalking Defense Attorneys

Internet Solicitation

Internet chat rooms and commercial Web sites such as MySpace can be great places to meet interesting people and make new friends. They're also a great place to meet a lot of cops. Local, state, federal, ICE, FBI - you name it, they're out there chatting it up, posing as teenage girls who'll be "turning eighteen" very soon, encouraging contact.

A lot of people fall for their act. You see it on television and read about it in the papers as more people fall prey to these online provocations. The problem for law enforcement is that "sting" operations and decoys can easily cross the line into entrapment. If you have been charged with the solicitation of a minor or with soliciting sex online - a conviction officially makes you a "sex offender" and can follow you for the rest of your life. In Washington these cases are typically charged as Attempted Rape of a Child 2, with a sentence range of five years to life in prison for this single offense. Our attorneys will provide you with an aggressive defense based on their experience in guiding clients through this life altering event. You need experienced counsel to enable you to put your best foot forward when facing these charges.

Special Assault Unit and the Online Solicitation of a Minor

The Special Assault Unit (SAU) is responsible for investigating sex crimes. Members of the SAU enter chat rooms and pose as underage teens interested in sex. Typically, agents wait until a conversation turns sexual in nature; in other instances, agents express an interest in sex in order to see if someone will offer to engage in sex with what they believe is a minor. In many instances, what is said online is pure fantasy. However, the fact that a suspect never intended to act on what was said or, even more importantly, would have been unable to complete the crime, is not a defense.

In defending people accused of the online solicitation of a minor, we focus on issues of entrapment and the nature of what was said. Depending on the facts, we may be able to have the charges against the accused dismissed or reduced. SAU agents can be overzealous and jump to conclusions that are not borne out by the facts.

Internet Stalking

Internet stalking involves sending someone emails or hacking into their computer with the intent to harass and stalk him or her. If a restraining order is in place, contacting someone through email constitutes communication with him or her and may be deemed a violation of a restraining order. Under the Violence Against Women Act and the full faith and credit provisions of the Constitution, a protection order issued in one state must be enforced in another state. As such, if an email is sent to someone living in a different state who has a protection order against you, you can still be prosecuted for violating the terms of the protection order.

However, what constitutes internet stalking is not always clear. Disputes after a divorce or disagreements between friends or former business partners may be carried out over the internet. Just because one person claims they're being harassed doesn't mean it's true. Our office thoroughly investigates the circumstances surrounding allegations of internet stalking in order to tell our client's side of the story and expose the facts.

The Internet crime defense lawyers of Rhodes & Meryhew, LLP represent individuals in the Seattle area and throughout the State of Washington.

If you have been accused of Internet stalking or have been threatened with a protection order - strong legal advocacy and sound advice are two things you cannot afford to do without.