Archive for December, 2011

Michigan Sex Crime – Man Arrested for Using Public Library’s Wireless Internet to Download Child Pornography

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

A 43 year-old man in Lowell, Michigan, was arrested this year for using the free wireless internet signal from the Kent District Library branch in Lowell to download child pornography. The man constructed his own digital antenna that allowed him to pick up the internet signal from his apartment, which is located approximately 100 yards from the library. If it weren’t for an anonymous tip to the federal government regarding his activities, the man may not have been caught because the illegal material was accessed through the library’s wireless router rather than through his own internet service provider. However, after investigating, authorities did find numerous pornographic images of children on his hard drive.

The Lowell resident faced charges for possession of child sexually abusive material (CSAM), unauthorized access to a computer, and using a computer to commit a felony. All three of these crimes are felonies. In Michigan, sex crimes charges are taken very seriously by police, prosecutors, and judges. All criminal defendants should be considered not guilty until the government can prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. That is why it is imperative that a defendant have an attorney who is both highly-skilled and experienced at defending sex crime allegations.

The sex crime attorneys at Kronzek & Cronkright have many years of combined experience fighting allegations of possession of child pornography and many other sex crimes. We aggressively defend our clients, working hard to achieve favorable outcomes in all cases. Let us put our skills and experience to work for you!

Michigan Sex Crime Attorneys – Entrapment as a Defense to Sex Crime Charges

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011

Recently, we wrote a blog article on online sting operations similar to the To Catch a Predator television show. During these stings, officers pretend to be interested in sexual behavior, yet as soon as the unknowing defendant approaches them, the defendant is arrested and charged with a computer crime and/or a sex crime. One possible defense to sex crime allegations may be entrapment.

In Michigan, entrapment occurs when police conduct induces a law-abiding citizen to commit a crime. To prove entrapment, defense attorneys examine whether the police conduct enticed the defendant to commit the crime. In the context of an internet chat room sex crime allegation, a successful entrapment defense could be that the law enforcement officer posing as a minor started the conversation and then went above and beyond to get the defendant to meet for sex. In the context of solicitation, a successful entrapment defense could be that the law enforcement officer posing as a prostitute or panderer approached the defendant and went above and beyond to get the defendant to pay for sex. The key is to find whether the officer’s actions induced the defendant to engage in the criminal behavior, or whether the defendant was otherwise predisposed to committing the crime. Entrapment can also be established when the police engage in conduct that is so reprehensible that it cannot be tolerated by the courts. If the police acted that wrongfully, the defendant does not need to show that the police conduct induced his or her commission of the offense.

Entrapment can be difficult to prove, which is why you should immediately consult with a skilled and experienced sex crime defense lawyer. Your attorney will investigate your case and the evidence against you and determine if an entrapment defense is feasible in your case. When charged with crimes like Criminal Sexual Conduct, accosting a minor, child pornography, or using a computer to commit a sex crime, contact our Michigan criminal defense team today at 1 866-766-5245.