All sex crimes are taken seriously by prosecutors. However, perhaps none is more aggressively prosecuted than those offenses that involve children. To make matters worse, those who face these types of allegations are often seen as guilty until proven innocent, even though this is an inverted view of the truth of the matter. This means that those who are accused of sex crimes against children have a difficult uphill battle. They should, therefore, be prepared to put forth a strong defense, even if all hope seems lost.
Take the case of Pastor Richard Patton, who was recently arrested on charges of possession of child pornography. Authorities claim the pornography was found on the 70-year-old’s computer after he took it to a Best Buy to get repaired. Police say they have discovered searches on the computer that support the claim that Patton looked for and acquired child pornography, and they even state that he admitted to the crime.
However, even if police claim that an individual admitted to a crime or the individual said something incriminating, that does not mean that they are guilty and will be deemed as such. When it comes to interrogations, strict rules must be followed. If there is a breakdown in procedure, a criminal defendant’s constitutional rights might be violated. When this happens, statements made by the defendant may be excluded as evidence, which can be a boon to the defendant’s case.
The criminal law system is fraught with delicate and complex legal issues like these. Though that may be worrisome to a few, discussing the matter with an attorney can help put minds at ease and, perhaps, lead to the discovery of a defense strategy that works.
Source: Detroit Free Press, “Pastor Richard Patton facing child pornography charges,” Sarah Sell, Oct. 28, 2015
