On Sept. 20, a 20-year-old Florida woman was found guilty on several sex crimes following a three-day trial. According to the report, the woman and her ex-boyfriend were accused of possessing child pornography and of abusing two children under the age of 5.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement began to investigate the case after officers received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The ex-boyfriend, age 18, was taken into custody at his home on March 28. He was charged with 10 counts of child pornography. As the investigation progressed, authorities reported that images were found of the man abusing a child.
Images of the accused woman abusing a second child were then found as the investigation continued. The woman was then taken into custody and was charged in connection to the case. Both the woman and the ex-boyfriend were being held without bond in the Flagler County Jail. Authorities said that other charges against the accused woman were pending. She was scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.
Those who are accused of sex crimes against children, including sexual assault or being in possession of child pornography, can face serious punishments if they are convicted on these types of charges. In addition to a lengthy prison sentence, it is likely that those found to be guilty of sex crimes will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of their lives. This makes finding appropriate housing and work extremely difficult. A criminal law attorney could defend those who were charged with a sexual offense and help ensure that their rights are protected during the trial. The attorney could fight for a dismissal if there is a lack of evidence or if authorities illegally obtained it.
Source: News 4 JAX, “Flagler County jury finds woman guilty of sex charges“, Sept. 20, 2017
