Sex Crimes

Can Police Get DNA from Your Face Mask?

Published: Jul 30, 2020 in Sex Crimes

As of early July 2020, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Texans to wear face masks when in public. This comes in response to COVID-19, and to hopefully slow the spread through hygienic practices, like social distancing, hand washing, and wearing face masks. But like many government actions, there might be some unintentional consequences to wearing masks in public, like unknowingly providing DNA evidence in criminal cases. DNA from a Mask Without a Warrant In June, King City Police in California were able to take a DNA sample from a suspect’s face…

When are Prior Bad Acts Allowed in Texas Sex Crimes: Is Your Past Haunting You?

Published: Jul 23, 2020 in Child Sex Crimes, Sex Crimes, Sex Crimes Involving Children

When you’re charged with a sex crime in Texas, you can bet that the police will dig into your past. They’re looking for skeletons in your closet, like past convictions or arrests. The bigger, the better. They’ll specifically look for prior sex crimes that might be related to the current case, like if you’re accused of child molestation and were previously convicted of statutory rape as a young adult. In certain cases, prior bad acts are admissible evidence in sex crimes. But you shouldn’t let the prosecution use your criminal…

Sex Crime Plea Agreements: Is it a Good Deal?

Published: Jun 25, 2020 in Child Sex Crimes, Criminal Defense, Sex Crimes, Sex Crimes Involving Children

In Harris County, Texas criminal cases are often resolved by plea agreements. Pleas are made between you and the prosecution, where you agree to plead guilty to select charges for a certain penalty. While pleas must be approved by the judge, they avoid costly trials and increase efficiency. They are also helpful to avoid unnecessarily harsh sentences – especially when sex crimes are involved. However, plea agreements still result in convictions, and there may be unintended consequences to accepting. So, if prosecutors offer you a plea in a sex crime…

Can the Police Confiscate My Computer?

Published: Jun 15, 2020 in Child Sex Crimes, Criminal Defense, Sex Crimes

There are two reasons for law enforcement to confiscate your computer: collection of evidence, or civil asset forfeiture. If the police are investigating you for fraud, child pornography, or any crime where evidence might be found on your computer, the police may seize your computer. But remember that a warrant is almost always required to do so. If you’re facing criminal charges in Houston and a computer or other electrnc device is being used as evidence, contact a criminal defense lawyer from The Law Offices of Ned Barnett at (713)…

Houston Child Porn Charges: How People Get Caught

Published: May 08, 2020 in Child Sex Crimes, Criminal Defense, Federal Crimes, Sex Crimes, Sex Crimes Involving Children

Child pornography investigations in Harris County often involve a combination of federal, state, and local law enforcement. The involvement of several agencies happens because of the seriousness of the charges, and because child pornography rings often cross state lines and even international borders. For instance, a 2013 international child pornography investigation known as Project Spade resulted in the arrest of over 350 people in 50 countries. Nowadays, Hoston police rely more and more on technology in child porn investigations – particularly file-sharing networks. If you are accused of possessing or…