Tag Archives: Sex Crimes

Sex, Alcohol, and Consent on College Campuses. #CriminalDefenseAttorney

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Sex, Alcohol, and Consent on College Campuses – Frank Walker Law

College is a time where many adults begin living on their own and take their first steps into personal responsibility. For many young adults, it is also a time for experimentation with drugs and alcohol, and their first time living alone.  A college campus is a great place for young people to meet others in their age group, socialize, and pursue relationships.  However, the combination of youth, drugs and alcohol, and inexperience can lead to difficult situations in the eyes of the law.

Accusations of rape, sexual assault, and other sex and alcohol related crimes are common in a college campus setting.  In these cases usually there is no dispute as to whether sex occurred, instead the issue centers around whether that sex was consensual. Unfortunately in most cases of sex related crimes there is limited evidence outside the testimony of the two individuals involved. Add in alcohol or drugs, and even the two people’s memories of who were there that night may not reflect the reality of exactly what happened.

When these events are reported to the college, what happens from there can spiral out of control. College Administration, in attempts to protect their reputation as safe for students and unwilling to put themselves at risk by making hard decisions, often suspend or expel those accused of sexual misconduct without opportunity for a hearing or meaningful investigation into what happened.  This can end a promising career and future for a young college attendee before it even gets started.

Even if a hearing is convened, students may potentially be denied the opportunity to be represented by counsel or to present a meaningful opportunity to challenge the accusations. These situations have been gaining prominence in the news as students and attorneys have been pushing back against the university’s summary dismissals without due process.

If you are a college student or other individual facing allegations of sexual misconduct, or have a son or daughter that is facing allegations through their university or criminal charges from the police, its important to lay down a strong defense early. Getting an attorney early on can prevent potentially irreparable damage from being done to someones reputation and future.  Attorney Frank Walker can help.  With years of experience in the criminal justice system and helping college aged individuals in their time of need, Attorney Walker can help you fight the charges and demand due process for the accused. Set up a consultation now.  Attorney Walker has offices conveniently located near college campuses in Pittsburgh, PA and Morgantown, WV.

Attorney Frank Walker of Frank Walker Law is a National Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyer and Personal Injury Attorney with offices in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and Morgantown West Virginia. Attorney Walker is also a member of the National College for DUI Defense and qualified as a Pennsylvania Death Penalty Defense Attorney.

If you or someone you love are facing criminal charges or seriously injured in an accident in WV or PA, contact Attorney Frank Walker immediately at 412-532-6805, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for aggressive and experienced Criminal Defense or Representation following a serious accident or injury.

 

A Hard Line and a Soft Touch: A Different Approach is Needed for Handling Sex Offenses

Frank Walker Law Sex Offenses

Sex Offenses are taken very seriously in the Commonwealth and must be handled differently from other criminal charges from the onset.  From the very inception, the Commonwealth is going to be taking the charges very seriously, and mishandling of the defense case can lead to serious consequences. Its important to remember that allegations of sexual misconduct are very politically charged as well as emotionally charged. Prosecutors are less likely to be willing to cut the accused any slack as they might otherwise be inclined to do with other serious offenses involving drugs, money or violence. Instead, the Commonwealth is going to be attempting to build a strong, forceful case with serious felony charges that will change the accused’s life forever.

However, unlike cases involving drugs, substance abuse, violence, or firearms, in a huge portion of sex offense cases, the only evidence available is testimony from the alleged victim.  It is a common misconception that physical evidence is required to obtain a criminal conviction. This is far from the truth. In a large portion of cases, convictions are obtained solely on the testimony of the accuser.  If you factor in the natural biases juries may have against people accused of sex offenses, trials in these cases are emotionally charged and difficult to defend. It takes a strong attorney willing to challenge the accuser without drawing the ire of the jury for being needlessly insensitive.

The consequences of a sex offense conviction will affect the rest of your life. Many sex related offenses will require registration with Pennsylvania’s Sex Offender Registry. SORNA (The sex offender registration act) is quite strict and draconian in its application. The violation of any of its basic provisions is a felony one offense punishable with up to twenty years in prison. Employers, friends, and family members will never look at you the same when they find out and offenders will find themselves shunned by much of society and be discriminated against in every facet of life. Should your conviction come with a jail sentence, fellow inmates are less than friendly with sexual offenders, and the department of corrections may require you to complete long counseling and treatment programs that may keep you incarcerated long past your minimum sentence.

If you have been charged with a sex offense, this is not the time to go at it alone. One misstep could haunt you for the rest of your life. You need an experienced professional attorney at your side immediately. Thankfully, Attorney Frank Walker is available for these tough situations. With Attorney Frank Walker you will have a passionate advocate at your side who will fight for you and handle these tough accusations with the tough stance they require. Don’t wait another second. Give Attorney Walker  a call at 412-532-6805 to set up a consultation!

Attorney Frank Walker of Frank Walker Law is a National Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyer and Personal Injury Attorney with offices in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and Morgantown West Virginia. Attorney Walker is also a member of the National College for DUI Defense and qualified as a Pennsylvania Death Penalty Defense Attorney.

If you or someone you love are facing criminal charges or seriously injured in an accident in WV or PA, contact Attorney Frank Walker immediately at 412-532-6805, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for aggressive and experienced Criminal Defense or Representation following a serious accident or injury.

What evidence caused the arrest of a local #Pittsburgh Pastor for Sexual Assault?

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A pastor in the Pittsburgh area has been arrested and charged with corrupting a minor. The pastor, who was one of the leaders of an outreach ministry in Homestead, is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage member of that church’s congregation. The male victim, who is now 21 years old, reported to police that the pastor had sexually abused him on a regular basis over a two-and-a-half year time span.

The pastor was believed to be counseling the young man at the church but was instead allegedly using that time to commit the assaults which reportedly occurred in one of the church’s offices,  a bathroom, and one of the back rooms.

According to the criminal complaint, the assaults began in 2009 and lasted until almost the end of 2011. By that time the victim was a freshman in college and had notified the pastor at that time that he didn’t want any more counseling from him. The pastor allegedly told the boy not to inform his mother or anyone else about what had been going on because “he didn’t want to get into trouble”.

In theory, Sex Assault cases can be difficult to prove due to the lack of a confession or other particularly damaging evidence. Though there are definitely many cases of those in authority abusing their power, many sex assault cases rest solely on the testimony of the victim, standing alone, without any corroborating evidence.

Most troubling, is the reality of how sex assault cases are handled: the allegation alone can lead to an arrest, without any DNA evidence, witnesses or any other supporting information. In most occasions, the investigating officers feel obligated to proceed with the charges with the mindset, “the jury will figure it out”.  When the jury gets the case, some jurors admit that they feel compelled to convict since, “the officer arrested them, therefore something must have happened.” What is lost in the two mindsets is the fact that the Defendant should be presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Attorney Frank Walker of Frank Walker Law is a National Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyer and Personal Injury Attorney with offices in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and Morgantown West Virginia.

If you or someone you love are facing criminal charges or seriously injured in an accident, contact Attorney Frank Walker immediately at 412-315-744124 hours a day, 7 days a week for aggressive and experienced Criminal Defense or Representation in a Civil Case.

Hard Hitting Representation | Pittsburgh Criminal Attorney

 

Two #Pittsburgh Area Men Arrested on Child Predator Related Charges

Two Pittsburgh area men were reportedly arrested as part of the state’s ongoing crackdown on child predators.

According to a statement the Attorney General’s Child Predator Section arrested the two men, including a 67 year-old man of Washington, and a 37 year-old man of West Homestead, in separate stings. The 67 year-old suspect allegedly placed an online advertisement, to which an officer posing as a 14 year-old girl responded. After an alleged sexual conversation, the suspect set a time and place to meet the girl. When he showed up, he was arrested. The Defendant is facing multiple charges including criminal attempt to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child and criminal attempt to commit indecent assault on a person less than 16 years of age.

The 37 year-old suspect was arrested in a separate sting after an officer, posing as an underage girl, responded to one of his online ads. The suspect reportedly asked the officer posing as the girl for photos and engaged in sexual conversation. He, too, arranged a meeting and was arrested at the meeting location. He is facing charges including two counts of criminal attempt to commit indecent assault.

Both men were booked at Allegheny County Jail to await a preliminary hearing.

Attorney Frank Walker of Frank Walker Law is a National Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyer and Personal Injury Attorney with offices in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and Morgantown West Virginia.

If you or someone you love are facing criminal charges or seriously injured in an accident, contact Attorney Frank Walker immediately at 412-315-744124 hours a day, 7 days a week for aggressive and experienced Criminal Defense or Representation in a Civil Case.

Commercial Pilot in Federal Custody for Sexual Assault

An Oakdale man is in federal prison as a result of an alleged visit he paid to a 15 year Ohio girl in December, which resulted in sexual activity. According to the FBI the man, who is a commercial pilot, met the girl online and traveled to West Virginia in order to have sex with her. It was not immediately clear why the girl was in West Virginia.

The accused, who is a pilot for Republic Airlines, allegedly met the 15 year old girl on a website called MeetMe.com in December. During online chatting the victim revealed to him that she was 15 years old. The two allegedly met in person and engaged in sexual activity in December, but the girl’s mother became suspicious when the girl came home early after saying she was going to stay with a friend for the night. The girl’s mother also noticed that her daughter smelled like men’s cologne. The girl’s mother then notified authorities about the situation, which led to the 28 year old pilot’s arrest.

When FBI agents raided the home of the accused on February 7, they searched his cell phone for evidence of the crime. In his cellphone the man had allegedly listed the girl as “Ohio 15,” an indication of his knowledge of her age. His text message record also allegedly indicated that he had contacted the girl for a second meeting the day before the FBI raid.

Attorney Frank Walker of Frank Walker Law is a National Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyer and Personal Injury Attorney with offices in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and Morgantown West Virginia.

If you or someone you love are facing criminal charges or seriously injured in an accident, contact Attorney Frank Walker immediately at 412-315-744124 hours a day, 7 days a week for aggressive and experienced Criminal Defense or Representation in a Civil Case.

More Child Porn Charges for Westmoreland Man

A Westmoreland County man, who was already facing child pornography charges, is now facing additional charges as police continue to investigate the case.

The 36 year old suspect was originally caught in a sting by the state’s Child Predator Unit as it investigated an online network which facilitated the exchange of child pornography. After being identified and located in connection with the investigation, the suspect was allegedly found to have a remote control system in his house, which he used to activate a webcam in the room of a 15 year old girl who lived with him.  Police say that he used the webcam to record the girl undressing.

After searching the man’s computer, police allegedly found about 100 child porn videos, which resulted in additional charges. They also found evidence that the man was secretly recording the girl who lived with him. His relationship to her has not been revealed.

The man is being held on $150,000 bond.

Attorney Frank Walker of Frank Walker Law is a National Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyer and Personal Injury Attorney with offices in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and Morgantown West Virginia.

If you or someone you love are facing criminal charges or seriously injured in an accident, contact Attorney Frank Walker immediately at 412-315-744124 hours a day, 7 days a week for aggressive and experienced Criminal Defense or Representation in a Civil Case.