We maintain a list on our resources page.

I feel for you brother and definately hope it goes well for you. Just FYI as an update with my situation, I was planning and ready to go to trial in my case this past august, 7 years after my initial arrest, when the DA offered 5 years deferred adjudication and additional 10 years on the state SO registry. I ended up taking that plea deal even though I felt I had a great chance of winning an appeal on the statute of limitations. However, with the over $25,000 already spent on two lawyers and the fact that I need to stay here to help my 70+ year old mother, I didn’t want to wait for the appeals process while not being able to help out my mom. I figured with the deferred adjudication any felony paperwork will be wiped out after my 5 years of probation was good enough for me. I concur with others in rhis thread that say do not talk to any law enforcement without an attorney present, do your own research just to verify what your lawyer advises, and keep the faith. This system is definately screwed up and it sucks to get pulled into it. I’m actually learning quite a lot in my probation group counseling sessions that are helping with other areas in my life. Just keep positive and make the best out of the situation. God only gives us what we can handle and it’s good to be reminded that even though we might not understand at the time why, but there is a greater purpose in every struggle. Best of luck to you brother.

FAC
Is there any way that you could help by starting a list of attorneys in each state that are experienced in handling cases related to sex offenses. I would like to hire an attorney but because of my past experience with them I don’t want to waist a lot of time and money just to find out they don’t know what there doing. I know I could prove my innocence , but need a good attorney or maybe just a private investigator.

Same way here it’s been three years for this crap for something they did and blaming me for I can’t afford a lawyer I’m disable so looks like I’ll be in prison for no reason and never been in trouble before im49

I got caught up in one of these stings in Georgia (probably the same folks in the article). Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford an attorney and had to go with a public defender. Also, unfortunately, I was convicted and sentenced to serve 2 years of 15, and have to look forward to being a registered sex offender for the next 25 years for nothing more than having a conversation online. First time brush with law enforcement and our criminal judicial system.

Currently, I’m attempting to appeal and have my conviction overturned based on inadequate defense from my public defender. The trial judge has already denied my appeal, so we’re moving on to the state court of appeals. I’m concerned about what my options are if my appeal is denied again.

Isn’t there anything that can be done to have these sorts of operations banned across the country? Like maybe some sort of lawsuit or legal action against the government?

John Doe
I know what you are saying is believable. My son has diabetes he had a driving ticket, but didn’t show up because he was in a diabetic coma for three weeks. When he got out of the hospital he went back to work. As he was getting ready to pull into his driveway from work ,he got stopped by police because of a tail light out. They ran a check and saw he had a unpaid ticket so put him in jail. He had no money because of being out of work for a month. He couldn’t pay bail. $150.00 . What was worse they would not let him take his insulin because they said they couldn’t confirm what was in the bottle. They took it from him. He didn’t want to call me at first but did the next day. He was getting weaker and would have been back into a coma again within hours or dead within 24.
Your life means nothing to them. The only thing that does is money and promotions.
I bailed him out and paid his ticket. If you don’t get someone who is interested in your well being you don’t have a chance. The system is rigged against you. They have all the cards and it’s a marked deck. It’s only fair in the public’s imagination. The fact that they get away with it 95% of the time emboldens them to keep doing what they do. When they do get caught they just laugh it off with no accountability.
That’s what you’re up against.
I know because I’ve been threw it. Don’t trust them or anything they say and if there are any red flags with your attorney don’t trust him, get another one . It’ll cost you more money in the long run but you’ll have your life.
Wish someone had given me that advice 25 years ago.

Actually most of these case ARE the same. Law Enforcement have a formula, they follow it and are very successful at their sham. Sometimes they mess up, many times not. Where there is evidence missing/deleted/mistakes one maybe able to get a dismissal or great reduction in a plea. The big thing is the STATE. Where did it occur. If in WA State, the 60 months sounds like a familiar plea, that is they want in all these cases; 5 years. Dismissals are rare, as are wins in trials so keep that in mind. If you have “planted” or “mistakes” in evidence that is a good sign of shoddy work and your chance to win increases; an investigator will be helpful going to trial or no. Also planted evidence would be criminal! You have to weigh the plea vs going to trial. Look at MINIMUM sentence range as your starting point. If plea is 60 months and MINIMUM range is 76.5 months that is probably worth the trial (pending conditions). That is what many are in WA State. For no criminal history they won’t give you more than the MINIMUM range (>90% of the time). If you are YOUNG you can get youth mitigation, but sounds like not for you. Federal cases are VERY TOUGH. I would recommend not messing with those, they have 10 year minimum on child enticement. It is insane. I would avoid a federal case at all cost. There is NO easy answer, once you are caught up in their system there is NO easy out. Everything comes at a cost. The pain for this will be long. My condolences. Check out my site for how to fight these and lots of related articles: http://www.ssrepentance.com
-Samuel

I was convicted in one of these stings and I never thought cops would be online in adult sites/chatrooms pretending to be minors. Crazy we are considered to be perverts trolling for minors when an adult was Trolling adults pretending to be a minor.

Aracely….

First is , “To Go To Trial OR Not Go To Trial”; in Most Cases, Similar to Mine in the Aforementioned, I was Told by ‘Experts’ That I would Be ‘WACKED’, even though Clearly Fabrication Existed (2012)-but, than, could not be proven by ‘Forensic Computer Experts’ at that Time…..While, -In, Today’s Forensic Computer Environment, It can NOW be detected! So I had to “walk the plank”

So Everyone’s Case, Is Really Independent of One Another’s as Each One’s Cases ‘Have Different Darts Thrown At Them, at Different Times’

Whoa… we can’t tell others whether to take a plea or not. The only person John Doe should be consulting with is his attorney. Don’t get me wrong, I greatly admire anyone who stands up and fights their case, but Mr. Doe and everyone reading this should not take legal advise from this forum, from FAC or anybody other than their attorney. If John is not happy with his attorney, he should certainly consult with another attorney, but only an attorney licensed in Florida (or whatever Jurisdiction Mr. Doe’s case is from), who has reviewed the case, should be advising him. If, the result is he rejects the plea and fights his case, we’ll be here rooting for him.