ANNE ARUNDEL, CALVERT, CHARLES, ST. MARY’S & PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTIES.
Online & Internet Offense Defense | Haskell & Dyer
A Case Built on Messages and Stings Is a Case Full of Weak Points.
Charges built on messages, images, or sting operations raise complex questions of entrapment, identity, and intent. We dig into the digital evidence itself and into exactly how it was gathered.
If You're Under Investigation
Do not talk to investigators and do not delete anything. Call a lawyer first.
These cases often start with a sting or a tip, and investigators may already have your messages. Talking can hand them intent, and deleting data can become a separate charge. With serious penalties and possible federal exposure on the line, stay silent, leave devices alone, and call a lawyer before any contact.
Three Questions That Decide These Cases
Entrapment, Identity, and Intent
Online cases look airtight from the outside, but they rest on three questions, and each is a place a real defense can be built.
Entrapment
Who Started It
When the idea and the pressure came from law enforcement rather than the accused, entrapment can be a defense. We examine how the operation was set up and who drove the conversation.
Identity
Who Was Actually There
An account or device is not a person. Shared logins, multiple users, and spoofing all raise real doubt about who actually sent what. We press on whether it was truly you.
Intent
What Was Actually Meant
Messages can be ambiguous, edited, or taken out of order. The State has to prove genuine criminal intent, and the full context often tells a different story.
What's at Stake
Serious Charges, Often With a Federal Dimension
Online offenses carry heavy consequences, and they can draw federal as well as state attention.
Felony
Serious felony exposure on many charges
Federal
Possible federal charges alongside state ones
Registry
Sex offender registration on some convictions
Record
Lasting harm to reputation and your future
How We Defend an Online or Internet Charge
We dig into the digital evidence and how it was gathered, and we hold the State to proving identity and intent.
We Examine the Sting
We look at how the operation was run and whether law enforcement induced conduct that would not otherwise have happened.
We Challenge Identity
Shared devices, multiple users, and account access all raise doubt about who was actually behind the messages.
We Put Messages in Context
We get the full conversation, in order and unedited, because context often undercuts the State's claim of intent.
We Scrutinize the Search
How devices and data were seized and searched matters. Unlawful searches can get key evidence suppressed.
Common Questions
Online & Internet Offenses, Answered
The person I was talking to turned out to be police. Is that entrapment?
Not automatically, but it can be. Entrapment looks at whether law enforcement induced you to do something you were not otherwise inclined to do. How the operation was set up, who raised the idea, and how much pressure was applied all matter. We examine the whole exchange closely.
The messages came from my account. Doesn't that prove it was me?
No. An account or device is not the same as a person. Shared logins, multiple users, and access by others all raise real doubt about who actually sent a message. The State has to prove it was you, and identity is often a genuine weakness in these cases.
Can the messages be taken out of context?
Often, yes. Conversations can be presented in fragments, out of order, or stripped of context that changes their meaning. We work to get the full, unedited exchange, because intent is something the State must prove, and the complete picture frequently tells a different story.
Could this become a federal case?
It can. Many online offenses draw federal attention alongside state charges, and federal exposure can be severe. Whether a case goes federal depends on the facts. Part of the defense is understanding that risk early and preparing for it from the start.
What should I do right now?
Say nothing to investigators, do not delete anything, and call a lawyer immediately. Deleting data can create a new charge, and statements can hand the State intent. These cases turn on the digital evidence and how it was gathered, so getting a defense involved early matters enormously.
Charged in an Online or Internet Case? Let's Examine the Evidence.
These cases turn on entrapment, identity, and intent, and on how the evidence was gathered. Everything you tell us stays confidential. Tell us what happened and get an honest read on your defense. The first conversation is free.
Under investigation or arrested? Call our 24/7 line now: 240-687-0179
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC Practicing Law in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s Counties.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC Practicing Law in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s Counties.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC
Fax: 301-627-5848
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