Individuals charged with child sex crimes often feel at a complete loss because the public and media often make harsh judgments before even knowing the facts of a case. Sometimes people who used to be friends no longer are, and even family members might turn their backs after hearing of a sex crime allegation. In Wisconsin, public response to charges of Internet sex crimes tends to be no different.
A Fond du Lac man who has been accused of possessing and viewing child pornography is facing five felony charges. Special investigators carried out a search of the suspect’s home, and authorities claim to have found child pornography videos and digital images. It remains to be seen whether or not the man was actually responsible for obtaining the alleged illegal materials.
He was convicted previously in 1984 on a first-degree charge of sexually assaulting a child. At that time, he was sentenced to three years in prison. However, a different set of evidence must be considered in connection with the more recent allegations, and just because a person has a previous conviction does not necessarily mean he or she is guilty of the present charges.
At the time of a local news report, the man was in custody, and his bond was set at $10,000. His preliminary hearing was scheduled for June 1, and that hearing was meant to determine whether enough evidence was gathered against him for the case to go to trial.
Other Wisconsin residents are in the same or a similar situation. Child sex crimes do happen, and guilty or not, accused individuals are prosecuted aggressively. To ensure fair court proceedings, defendants who have been charged with Internet crimes will want to be fully aware of their rights under our state’s criminal laws.
Source: fdlreporter.com, “Man facing child porn charges,” May 24, 2012