Why You Should Remain Silent

A man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison this week for attempting to lure a 13 year old girl to meet him for sex over the internet. Ten years is the mandatory minimum sentence for this offense in federal court. The court ordered the man to register as a sex offender for 20 years when he is released from prison. However, in California the sex registration requirement is a lifetime requirement. People convicted of sex crimes in federal court have to abide by the registration laws in the state in which they reside. The man in this case, was actually chatting with an undercover FBI agent posing as the girl. The man, who is 37 years old, testified at his trial that he thought he was chatting with an adult woman, not a 13 year old girl. The jury rejected the man's testimony because his testimony differed from what he had told the FBI when he was interviewed after his arrested. There was no other evidence that the man had any sexual interest in children. If this man had not spoken with the FBI after his arrest, the jury very possibly would have believed his testimony at trial and he might have been acquitted rather than convicted and facing 10 years in federal prison. You should never speak to law enforcement. Agents and officers will always make you believe that it is in your best interest to "cooperate" with them. It is almost never in your best interest. When they say, "Anything you say will be used against you" they mean it! It will be used against you. If you are arrested or under suspicion for committing a crime, always remain silent and call me!