Spring Hill Man Arrested for Alleged Sexual Assault of Girl he Met on Snapchat

A Spring Hill man is accused of sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl he met on Snapchat.

According to news reports, a 22-year-old man was arrested Saturday on charges including sexual battery on a child and violating probation. Pasco County deputies claim the man picked her up from her house on Saturday and brought her back to his Spring Hill home, where he allegedly assaulted her.

According to reports, Hernando County deputies investigating a missing child report tracked the girl to the man’s home, where they say she was found in his bedroom. An arrest report says the girl told authorities that the man forced her to have sex. It goes on to say that the man admitted to having sex with her.

The man was on probation at the time for a felony charge of forced entry, according to reports.

In today’s world, social media has many of us focused on making connections and building online relationships. Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat make it easier than ever to make new connections with people from all over the world, but unfortunately, innocent conversations, pictures, videos, etc. can escalate quickly into something much more serious. When any interactions turn into sexual encounters, whether intentional or by complete accident, those accused can face severe and damaging consequences. When any encounter involves an internet sex crime such as solicitation of a minor, you could be facing very serious criminal penalties, which can lead to a ruined future.

Our Tampa Bay Area Sexual Assault Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton urge you to protecting yourself while using any social media sites. While you certainly shouldn’t avoid using social media altogether, you must act responsibly, as anything you do online can be used against you. It is smart to establish guidelines to protect yourself from unnecessary trouble. Engaging in safe behavior is the most effective way to avoid false sex crimes accusations.

The following safety tips are good to remember when interacting online:

  • Use social networking sites that are intended for adults only
  • Confirm that the person you are speaking to is an adult
  • Try your best to confirm their age with other information on their page
  • Be careful and keep an eye out for warning signs that could be red flags that something is not quite right

Let’s be honest, people lie. It can be quite difficult to determine if someone is being truthful online, so it is always best to be safe rather than sorry. Trust your instincts. Anything that seems like a red flag to you should convince you to end the conversation. The truth is that false accusations of sexual assault and other sex crimes do happen, and more frequently than you may realize. In the blink of an eye you could be facing a serious sex crime allegation and unsure of where to turn. Our Florida Sex Crimes Defense Attorneys at Whittel & Melton are here to help you. We can implement a powerful defense strategy on your behalf.

The Florida courts take sex crimes offenses very seriously, especially those involving minors. A conviction could mean a long prison sentence and substantial fines. You will have to register as a sex offender, making it that much harder to find suitable employment and housing in the future.

Due to the severe conseuqneces assocaited with a sex crimes conviction, it is incredibly important for those charged to act fast and sexure legal representation right away. Social media can sometimes reveal incriminating evidence against you. We can help explain your side of the story.

Police and prosecutors perform online surveillance of suspects. With that said, a great deal of what you post is publicly available. Moreover, law enforcement will likely try and obtain a warrant to search your phone or computer for evidence. This will give them access to your files, as well as much of your internet history.

At Whittel & Melton, we know the law and we know the system. We are committed to helping people fight criminal charges. We defend people against the all sex offense charges, including:

  • Sexual assault
  • Sexual battery
  • Rape, date rape and statutory rape
  • Child molestation
  • Child pornography charges
  • Stalking
  • Kidnapping
  • Lewd and lascivious conduct
  • Internet sex crimes

If you or someone you love is facing charges for an Internet sex crime or a crime that involves social media, we can help. We will launch an immediate investigation of our own to identify factors that can reduce the potential penalties or even get your charges dropped altogether.

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