Sex Crimes

The Problems with Rapid DNA Tests in Houston Rape Cases

Published: Dec 11, 2019 in Sex Crimes

Law enforcement and prosecutors in Texas and across the nation are struggling to deal with the harsh realities of investigating and prosecuting sexual assault cases. Hundreds of thousands of so-called rape kits, containing samples of fabrics, hair, and fluids collected from rape victims, remain untested. As a result, the sampling, storage, and testing procedures often result in the wrong suspect being identified and prosecuted. Authorities are turning to new DNA testing technologies to work through their backlogs. One such method, Rapid DNA testing, takes two to three hours and can…

Sending Unsolicited Nudes is Now a Crime in Texas

Published: Oct 22, 2019 in Sex Crimes

Sending nude photos to someone without consent is never a good idea. But now it is a crime under Texas law. Even in situations where sending the material was consensual, relationships sour and false allegations could put you in a difficult legal position. If you find yourself charged with a crime relating to sending sexually explicit materials, contact The Law Offices of Ned Barnett at (713) 222-6767. During a free and confidential consultation, we will review the facts and guide your next steps. New Texas Law Covers Sexually Explicit Material…

Can Prior Employers Disclose Sex Abuse Allegations in Texas?

Published: Apr 02, 2019 in Criminal Defense, Sex Crimes

If you were accused of sexual misconduct at your former workplace, your former employer is not prohibited from sharing this information when people call them for references about you. It’s important to note, however, that your former employer will likely not disclose sex abuse allegations against you. This is because they fear they will be sued for defamation if they share negative information about former employees. This is good news if you have been targeted with false accusations of sexual misconduct at a place of employment. On the other hand,…

Consequences of Having Child Porn on Your Phone

Published: Mar 01, 2019 in Criminal Defense, Sex Crimes, Sex Crimes Involving Children

If you get caught with child porn on your phone, you could be charged with possession of child pornography. If convicted of this felony offense, you could spend years in jail, pay thousands of dollars in fines, and have your personal and professional lives ruined by the collateral consequences of a sex crimes conviction. For this reason, you should contact an experienced Houston child pornography lawyer if you are being investigated for this criminal offense. To schedule a free and confidential consultation of your case, contact The Law Offices of…

What is Sextortion?

Published: Feb 27, 2019 in Criminal Defense, Sex Crimes

A Texas man was recently sentenced to 35 years in Illinois state prison for soliciting nude photos of underage girls from across the county. The defendant, 36-year-old Mark Barnwell of Whitehouse, Texas, would create fake Facebook profiles and then contact young women, posing as a modeling agent. He would persuade the girls to submit compromising pictures with the promise of large cash payments. Once he had the photos, he would threaten to post their photos online if they did not continue to provide him with pictures. Sextortion and related crimes…