Atlanta Child Molestation Attorney

Being accused of child molestation can be a terrifying thing.  Often, there will be no physical evidence of the alleged events and the case boils down to a swearing contest or “he-said-she-said”.  Suspects or often left wondering, “what can I do to show I did not do this?”. IN cases like these, it is very important to, first, consult with an Atlanta child molestation attorney.  Discuss with your attorney the possibility of doing a polygraph test and a psychosexual evaluation.  

In cases like these it is not unheard of for the defendant to submit to a polygraph test which is also known as a lie detector test.  Here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to a lie detector test. It is a very bad idea to even consider submitting to a lie detector test without the advice of their attorney.  Attorneys know that lie detector tests are rarely admissible in court unless they are bad for the defendant. For that reason, your attorney may want to arrange for a private lie detector test to be administered.  

If the results of that test would, in any way, negatively impact your defense, your attorney can choose not to ever mention the test again and there is no requirement to inform the prosecutor that the test was conducted.  Conversely, if you are able to obtain favorable results on a lie detector test, then your attorney can use the test as leverage during negotiations with the prosecutor and law enforcement. In essence, your attorney could approach law enforcement and say “look, he has already taken and passed a lie detector test and here it.”  

Your attorney can also make sure that you use a tester who is reputable, and not biased in favor of or beholden to law enforcement in any way.  You want a tester who feels absolutely no allegiance to the prosecution over a potential suspect because it may bias the way they administer or interpret the test.  Agreeing to a biased lie detector test with the knowledge of the prosecutor could lead to a false-positive on the polygraph test a have a huge negative impact on your defense.  

Another way to gain leverage in your case may be to consider undergoing s psychosexual evaluation.  A psychosexual evaluation often consists of a battery of personality tests and a one on one meeting with an evaluator to fill out questionnaires and determine if you present any risk factors indicating that you may be a sexual predator.  The goal of voluntarily undergoing a psychosexual evaluation is to achieve test results that show you are the very lowest possible risk to the community and do not show signs of being a sexual offender.

As stated above, an experienced attorney at The Lynch Law Group can use his or her connections in the legal community to arrange for you to be evaluated with a reputable provider.  You want to find someone who is fair and unbiased, but also well respected so that any favorable results will not be ignored by the prosecutor in your case. If the test does not go well and the evaluator is of the opinion that you are a threat to the community, discuss this with your lawyer.  It is likely that your lawyer will opt to not use the test and it will never be mentioned as a part of your defense.

Criminal Defense Attorney Atlanta, GA

Most states have some form of a sex offender registry.  The registry requires people who are convicted of a sex related crime to undergo monitoring as well as creating restrictions on where people can work and live.  The Georgia sex offender registry is particularly onerous. Although it is considered a lifelong registry there are ways, provided for under Georgia Law, to be removed from the registry.

There are several statutes that govern registry removal in Georgia.  OCGA 42-1-19 (a)(4), OCGA 17-10-6.2(c)(1)(A) thru (c)(1)(F) and OCGA 42-1-19(c)(2)(B) are widely considered the most relevant statutes that govern the court’s decision to remove a person from the registry.  

Answering the following questions, many of which flow directly from considerations deemed important in the Georgia statutes mentioned above, is a good first step in gathering the information you and your attorney will need to review to determine whether you are eligible to be removed from the sex offender registry.

1. Have you completed all probation for the offense which required registration? Were there ever any allegations that you used a weapon during the offense that lead to registration?
2. Were there ever any allegations that you used any form of weapon during the offense?
3. Were there ever any allegations that the alleged victim sustained serious bodily injury, was threatened with injury, or received an injury of any sort?
4. Was there ever any allegation of a similar incident against you?
5. Was there ever any allegation that you committed a similar offense against anyone else?
6. Did the alleged victim suffer any intentional physical harm during the commission of the offense?
7. Do you have any criminal history other than the charge that caused you to register?
8. Have you been arrested before or since the offense that caused you to register?
9. How long has it been since you completed your sentence?
10. Have you been assigned a risk level by the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board?
11. Was the alleged victim restrained during the commission of the offense?
12. Was the alleged victim moved from one location to another or transported in any way during the commission of the offense?
13. What is your level of education?
14. Are you currently employed?
15. Where are you currently employed?  
16. How long have you worked at your current place of employment?
17. Do you participate in any form of community service?  If yes, please describe?
18. Are you married?
19. Do you have any children?

Take some time to answer these questions before meeting with a lawyer to discuss being removed from the sex offender registry.  If you do not have all the documentation needed to answer these questions, make an effort to track down the documents that would allow you to answer these questions such as a copy of your sentencing paperwork, any relevant orders or documentation showing you competed probation, a copy of your indictment and any police or detective’s reports relevant to your case.  

Certain answers to the question above can act as disqualifiers to being removed from the sex offender registry.  However, it is very important that you answer these questions honestly. By working with an criminal defense attorney Atlanta, GA relies on at The Lynch Law Group who is experienced in this area of the law you will ensure that you are being given the best possible chance at being removed from the registry.  By answering these basic questions prior to meeting with an attorney, you may find yourself one step closer to your goal of being removed from the sex offender registry.  Even if you are not a good candidate for registry removal at this time, meeting with an attorney can give you a better idea of what, if anything, you could do to increase your chances of successfully being removed.

Criminal Defense Attorney

Testifying in court can be a really nerve-wracking situation, and sometimes those nerves can really get in the way of the information that you are trying to provide, as a child pornography lawyer knows well. So, if you are going to be called as a witness in a court case, here are some tips about how to handle it:

1.     Make sure you are well-rested, and that you have eaten something.

While you’ll be sitting down in a chair during your testimony, it’s likely you’ll find being a witness to be an exhausting experience. You need to stay focused full-time while you’re on the witness stand. That’s hard to accomplish if you are running short on sleep.

It’s also important that you eat something before you go on the witness stand. Maintaining focus when you’re hungry is incredibly difficult.

2.     Dress professionally.

Whether you’re testifying before a judge, or a judge and jury, how you look is going to make nearly as much of an impression as what you say. Dress like a professional, cover tattoos, and remove piercings. Try to appear clean and neatly groomed.

3.     Pay attention to your body language.

Body language can say a lot. Pay attention to what you are doing. Don’t fidget. Don’t shake. Don’t cross your arms. Try to maintain an open and relaxed posture.

4.     Tell the truth.

Your most important job as a witness is to tell the truth. Don’t worry about advancing an agenda. If you do, you will lose all credibility. Simply answer the questions posed to you truthfully.

5.     Don’t fight with the lawyer.

Do not fight with the lawyer who is questioning you. They do this for a living. No matter how good you are, fighting with them will make them look good and you look bad. Be polite, and simply answer the questions that they ask of you truthfully. This is about answering their questions, telling the truth, and providing information. It’s not about winning. If you make it about winning, you’ll lose.

6.     Don’t answer questions that aren’t asked.

Some witnesses get so stuck on what they want to say, they can’t wait for the lawyers to ask them the right question. So, they say what they want to say in a very non-responsive way. For example, if you’re asked, “Was the car blue?” don’t say, “It ran the red light.” Respond to the question you are asked. If the lawyers need to know whether the car ran the red light, they’ll ask you. Otherwise, keep it to yourself.

7.     Don’t say more than is necessary to answer the question truthfully.

If a question can fairly be answered with a yes or a no, answer the question with a yes or a no. If you find yourself saying “yes, but….” or “no, but….,” things are probably not going well for you.

When allegations of sexual assault or sexual misconduct are reported to a college or university, they begin an investigation under Title IX. The investigation generally begins with the university notifying the subject of the investigation of the allegations, and inviting that person in for an interview.

If you are the subject of a Title IX investigation, you will need to discuss with your attorney whether or not you should submit to an interview with the Title IX investigators. However, whether or not you submit to an interview with investigators, you will be permitted to submit other evidence regarding the allegations at the time of the scheduled interview. Below is a description of the kinds of evidence that you may, in consultation with your attorney, want to submit to the Title IX investigators:

1.     Favorable electronic evidence.

Often, you may have electronic evidence that is helpful in proving your innocence. Records of text messages from the accuser, social media posts, messages in other message applications, phone records, and other electronic evidence may paint a different picture than the story being told by the accuser. Many times, in a he-said, she-said case, one of the only methods you have for proving your innocence is to show that the accuser is not telling a credible story.

2.     Witness statements and/or contact information.

Think about people who were around immediately before or after the event. What might they have to say that would be helpful in showing that you are telling the truth, and that your accuser is not? If those people might have something helpful to say, have them interviewed by a private investigator. If they do in fact have information that is helpful to your case, turn over a report from the private investigator to the Title IX investigators, along with contact information for the witnesses. It’s probably not a good idea to rely solely on giving contact information to the Title IX investigators, as they may never follow up and actually complete an interview.

3.     Expert witness reports.

If there is a fact at issue that could be given better context by an expert witness (e.g. DNA, injuries, etc…), you can hire an expert witness to review the case and create a report for you. If that report produces information that is favorable to your case, then you can turn it over to the Title IX investigators to use in making their determination.

4.     Favorable polygraph examination report.

Your lawyer, like a criminal lawyer, can help you schedule a polygraph examination (lie detector test) confidentially. If you get a passing result, you can turn the report over the the Title IX investigator. While such a report might not be admissible in a court, no such evidentiary rules apply in a Title IX investigation.

If you are under investigation by a college or university for sexual assault or sexual misconduct, you should contact an attorney who is experienced in handling Title IX matters immediately.

Most parents of today’s teenagers grew up in a world without cell phones and widely available internet. Texting was not a thing. And neither was “sexting.”

Sexting is when a person sends an explicit message or photograph via text message or another message application on their phone, computer, or other electronic device, as a sex crime lawyer Grand Rapids, MI trusts can explain. It is not uncommon for teens today to engage in sexting.

It is important for today’s parents to talk to their teens about sexting. Not only can there be practical consequences to sexting, but there can also be serious legal consequences for sexting that most teens and parents don’t know about. A teen under the age of eighteen who sends or receives an explicit image of themselves or another minor is guilty of a serious crime that could result in prison time and placement on the sex offender registry.

From a merely practical standpoint, sexting is a bad idea for teens. Allowing explicit photographs of yourself to get out in the world can have real negative consequences. For example, if a teen girl sends an image to her boyfriend, she doesn’t have the expectation that the photo is ever going to be seen by anyone else but the boyfriend. However, it is not uncommon to see, after a breakup, the boyfriend pass the image around among friends, post the image on social media, or post the image on a “revenge porn” website. This can result in embarrassment and humiliation. Future employers will forever find these explicit images by googling your teen’s name. You can’t ever truly remove an image from the internet once it is out there.

Your teenager having explicit images of themselves floating around the internet can also make them vulnerable to people who may want to exploit your teen. They may be contacted by someone who demands money or more explicit images in exchange for not publicly disseminating the images.

In addition to those types of problems, the legal consequences of sexting can be incredibly serious. Even if your teen is of a legal age to consent to sexual activity in your state (in many states teens can consent to sex at 16 or 17 years of age), taking an explicit image of a person under the age of 18, even of themselves, and even with the teen’s consent, is illegal, and constitutes child pornography.

A teen who takes an explicit image of themselves is guilty of producing child pornography, which is a crime under both federal and state law. A teen who then sends the image to another person via text message is guilty of distribution of child pornography. A teen or adult who receives the image is guilty of receipt and possession of child pornography. If that person passes on the photograph to yet another person, they are guilty of distribution of child pornography.

These are crimes that carry penalties of up to thirty years or more in prison, and many of the crimes have mandatory minimums that don’t make probation a possibility. They can also result in placement on a state’s sex offender registry. Prosecutors across the country are charging teens with these crimes for sexting. They can have lifelong consequences that parents should ensure that their teens understand.

Thanks to our friends and contributors from Blanchard Law for their insight into criminal defense.

Being charged with a crime can be an incredibly stressful event. One thing that people often do in order to relieve stress is to talk about their problems with other people. However, when you have a criminal case pending, that’s a bad idea. When you share facts about your case with family members and friends, you can turn them into witnesses. The things that you say to them can be twisted, and made to sound incriminating, even if the person is on your side. You don’t want to put your family member or friend in a position of being made a witness against you at a trial. So, who can you talk to about your criminal case?

1.     Your Lawyer.

The one person in the world who you should be talking about every detail of your case with is your lawyer. With your attorney, you enjoy the attorney-client privilege. Anything you say to your lawyer cannot be revealed, and your lawyer cannot be forced to testify against you. The attorney-client privilege is a sacred privilege, and your lawyer will certainly take it very seriously.

There are very few exceptions to the attorney-client privilege. For example, telling a lawyer about your intent to commit a crime in the future is not subject to privilege. If you tell your lawyer that you intend to go kill John Doe, your lawyer can reveal that information in order to save John Doe. However, if you tell your lawyer that you killed John Doe in the past, that information cannot be revealed and is subject to the attorney-client privilege. Also, if you use your attorney’s services in order to commit a fraud of some kind, the attorney-client privilege won’t apply.

Those are rare exceptions, however, and when you have hired a criminal defense lawyer, like a criminal defense lawyer Grand Rapids, MI residents need, to defend you, they are unlikely to arise. You should feel entirely safe in sharing information with your attorney. The more information you are able to share with your attorney, the better they will be able to defend you.

2.     Your therapist, with some exceptions.

In most instances, you can share information about your criminal case with a therapist and the information will be kept confidential. The major exception is in a situation where you have committed a crime involving a child. If this is the case, in most states, therapists are what is known as “mandatory reporters,” and are required by law to report any information they have about a crime being committed against a child. If your case involves accusations of harm toward a child, you should not discuss the case with a therapist, even if you are innocent of the charges.

3.     Your spouse, also with exceptions.

In most states, there is a spousal privilege, meaning that a spouse cannot be forced to testify against the other spouse. However, there are two caveats. First, many states permit a spouse to be forced to testify against the other spouse when the allegations involve a crime against a child. Second, in many states, the spousal privilege is held by the testifying spouse. That means, if your spouse is called to testify against you, it is your spouse’s choice about whether or not to testify. You can’t prevent your spouse from testifying against you using the privilege. This means that when you discuss your case with your spouse, you ought to be 100% certain that you can trust him or her.

Thanks to our friends and contributors from Blanchard Law for their insight into criminal defense.

Anyone who enjoys criminal drama television shows or films knows that some of the most dramatic scenes take place during the criminal trials of those arrested and accused of crimes. Many people would be surprised to learn that the majority of cases never even make it to trial because the prosecutor and defense usually work out some sort of plea bargain that the judge signs off on.

Statistics show that less than 10 percent of defendants actually go on trial. In federal cases, only 3 percent of defendants are tried. The key to a defendant receiving a fair plea bargain and sentence agreement is to have a skilled criminal defense attorney handling those negotiations.

The following is a basic overview of how plea bargains work:

What is a plea bargain?

Plea bargains are negotiations that take place between the defendant (usually via his or her defense attorney) and the prosecutor. The goal of a plea bargain is to reach a resolution to the case without having to go trial. Typically, the prosecutor will offer a lesser charge than what the defendant is originally charged with, along with a lighter sentence than what the defendant is facing.

In turn, the defendant agrees to plead guilty to that lesser charge. In cases where there are other parties involved, part of the plea bargain may be that the defendant agrees to testify or offer evidence against the other parties. The law requires that any plea bargain a defendant makes is a voluntary one and that they are fully informed and aware of what their guilty plea means.

Why do prosecutors use plea bargains and why do defendants agree to them?

There are many reasons why a prosecutor may approach a defense attorney to discuss a plea bargain or a defense attorney may approach the prosecutor. The burden of proof in a criminal trial is on the prosecutor and if they feel there may some issues with some of the evidence or witnesses they have, they may offer a plea bargain. Another reason a prosecutor may offer a plea bargain is because the defendant can be a useful witness against another defendant who has committed more serious crimes.

A defendant may want to initiate a plea bargain because the evidence against them is very strong and it may be difficult to defend against. Instead of facing the maximum jail sentence, a plea bargain can bring a lighter penalty and possible alternative sentencing options, such as alcohol or drug treatment programs, probation, or suspended sentence.

In addition, a long, drawn-out criminal trial can be expensive, especially if it is necessary to call expert witnesses or conduct private investigations. A plea agreement can help avoid those high legal bills, especially if the evidence is overwhelmingly against the defendant anyway.

The best way to determine whether or not a plea bargain is the right choice for your situation is to discuss your case with an experienced criminal defense attorney DC trusts who can evaluate your case and the evidence against you and determine all of your legal options.

Thank you to our friends and contributos at The Law Firm of Frederick J. Brynn for their insight into criminal defense.

Child custody rights can be drastically affected by a criminal charge. Unfortunately, it can have pretty severe consequences and it may be worse if you have earned a DUI charge. You may very well suffer extreme social embarrassment, jail time and steep fees, but you may also implicate your child custody arrangement.

What Are the Impacts of a DUI on Obtaining Child Custody?

A DUI charge is serious and surely will be discussed during a custody hearing. Alcohol abuse is taken seriously by the family law courts and it often comes up as a point in hearings. Since a DUI charge can be used as evidence for alcohol abuse, you may be presented as a risk to your children.

The best option for you is to hire a criminal defense lawyer to fight for a lighter sentence or to render a verdict of not guilty in order to help your chances of retaining custody. A DUI charge hurts your case so much because it indicates your level of moral fitness as a guardian in a custody hearing.

Is My Custody Case Doomed?

Your DUI charge may not necessarily disqualify you from retaining custody. Depending on your behavior, background and particulars of the DUI. A court will look into your past to see if a pattern of alcohol abuse has been established. Although your spouse may want to highlight this particular accident, the court may not feel the same.

If that is your first and only offense, or you have no problems with alcohol and drugs and have complied with the sentence, then your DUI may not be used against you. If you show that you have gone to treatment or alcohol counselling, that will also strengthen your image in the eyes of the court. Be sure that your lawyer, like a family attorney Austin, TX trusts, is ready for a battle, because your spouse doesn’t want to lose either.

Is a DUI Conviction Going to Affect my Case?

Your conviction’s effects on your case will depend on the type of custody you are seeking; it may be different between legal custody and physical custody. A DUI conviction is unlikely to affect a decision of legal custody because it does not have an affect on decision-making regarding:

1. Religious Education
2. Choice of Schooling
3. Cultural Education
4. Tutoring
5. extracurricular

However, you are likely to be negatively impacted if you are seeking child custody because they may argue that you prefer alcohol to socializing with your children which means that you may be an absentee parent and do not deserve custody. It may be suggested that you would even endanger them by driving under the influence with the children in the car.

In all matters, it is best to consult a criminal lawyer who can help you determine where you stand regarding a DUI charge and custody battle. While the lawyer cannot guarantee an outcome, they can give you an educated idea about where your charge puts you and how to best proceed in your battle.

Thanks to our friends and contributors from The Law Office of Ryan S. Dougay for their insight into child custody.

On a daily basis, someone tells me the following “they didn’t even read me my Miranda rights”.  Because police television shows and movies have been popular for fifty years; everyone has heard, “You have the right to remain silent, you have the right to an attorney….”  Even Mom can give a Miranda warning from hearing it so often on television. But does that familiarity help to explain the rights of an accused, or not?

        Reality is very different from television and movies.  Although what you hear actors saying may be correct; that is where the confusion begins and further it has created an urban legend of misunderstanding in our society.  In this blog I will not delve into the history of Miranda v. Arizona. Nor will I discuss in detail what the specific rights are; as noted above, you can probably recite them!  What I am going to write about is when do these rights apply to you. In other words, when does a cop have to read you your rights?

        The short answer to this question is simple; maybe never.  The Miranda rights do not have to be recited you unless two things occur.  First, you must be under arrest. Police are generally trained to ask a lot of questions prior to an actual arrest, so watch your words.  The Miranda rights do not apply during this questioning and you may incriminate yourself.  So, if an officer walks up to you on the street and begins asking questions (and you’re not under arrest); he/she can do that without Miranda being a concern.  Anything you say at that time is evidence and can be used against you without violating your rights. Officers are trained to say, “I just have some questions, you’re not under arrest,” just to get people to talk.  This tactic is specifically used to get around Miranda. Once the phrase, “you are under arrest,” is said, then Miranda rights may become mandatory.

        The Second item is that the police must want to question you. There are times when the police may not need your statement or even care to talk to you.  Street cameras sometimes speak for you, for instance. If the police are interested in asking you about a crime, they must give the warning. If they are simply making small talk or asking you what you want for dinner while in jail, there is no need for the warning.

        Now you know how Miranda rights apply in a criminal case.  Hopefully, I have cleared up this widely misunderstood area of criminal procedure and you can ignore the television shows that use these important rights for dramatic effect.  Always remember, you are your best protection, so keep quiet until you talk to your lawyer, like a criminal defense lawyer trusts.

Driving under the influence of alcohol is a grave mistake that can cause you, or someone else, a great deal of pain and suffering. Not only is driving under the influence of alcohol risky because it can cause accidents resulting in bodily injury or death, but it can also cost you a lot more. For example, depending on the circumstances of your case, a DUI conviction may result in losing your license, being charged significant fines, an order to attend mandatory substance abuse counseling, an order for mandatory use of a ignition interlock device, and even substantial jail time. If you feel as if you have been wrongly charged with a DUI, these potential outcomes seem particularly terrible because you did not commit the crime with which you are charged. That is where the attorneys at [law firm] may be able to help. In the event you or a loved one needs legal assistance, do not hesitate to contact a DUI attorney MD relies on to assist.

They Know the Law

Over their years of experience practicing law the attorneys at have learned laws and the court procedures with proficiency. This is an important part of providing competent legal representation. Knowing the courts, judges, prosecutors, and court system can save you time and stress. Knowing the law will help your case. The attorneys  know the defenses available and they know how to assert them to benefit your case.

They Know You

Their years of experience have also allowed the attorneys] to represent a number of criminal defendants and many who have had DUI charges filed against them. They have almost certainly represented defendants just like you with charges similar to yours. Because they have seen so many cases, including cases similar to yours, they have well-developed strategies for handling your case. They know how to spot errors in law enforcement action and procedure. They know your legal rights and defenses, and they are capable of providing competent advocacy to get you a fair result at trial. Not only do they understand your case and the charges against you, they also understand what you are going through and they are capable of providing you the support you need to get your life back on track.

Thank you to the The Law Firm of Frederick J. Brynn, P.C for providing their insight on DUI charges.