However, recent allegations have pulled back the curtain on a disturbing reality. Dicer now faces grave charges, including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child and sexual extortion. Perhaps most chilling is the police’s brief that the current charges represent only the tip of the iceberg, with authorities actively searching for more potential victims.

For parents, this news isn’t just a headline but a visceral nightmare. It raises the most difficult questions a parent can ask: “How could this happen here? Was my child safe? And if the unthinkable occurred, what can I do now?”

At Logue Law Group, we’re aiming to break down the specifics of this case while providing a roadmap for parents seeking legal help. With the right Pittsburgh sex abuse attorney, children who have suffered can find protection and justice.

The Breach of Trust: The Case Against Sean Dicer

According to criminal complaints, the investigation into Dicer began after a 16-year-old boy made a report to Pennsylvania’s ChildLine. The allegations detail a harrowing breach of trust, of abuse that reportedly occurred when the victims were just 11 and 12 years old.

One of the most tactical elements of the case involves sexual extortion. Police allege that Dicer used his position of power and digital platforms like Cash App to pay $6000 to silence a victim. This highlights a common pattern in child predatory behavior—using shame, money, or authority to ensure the child feels complicit or too afraid to speak out.

Because Dicer operated a private photography business, he had unfettered access to children across various sports and school events. This is why the Allegheny County Police are urging any families who had contact with him to remain vigilant.

Recognizing the Signs of Grooming and Abuse

For the families in Allegheny County who have been advised to look for signs of abuse, it might be easier said than done. When a trusted community member is accused of such crimes, parents often feel a sense of guilt for not seeing the warnings. It’s vital to remember that predators are often masters of manipulation—not just of children, but of the adults around them as well.

Grooming behaviors can include:

• Special favors: A teacher or coach giving a child gifts, extra attention, or money (as seen in the Dicer allegations).
• Boundary pushing: Attempting to take a child away from the group or inviting them to a private residence.
• Secrecy: Encouraging the child to have “our little secret” or using private messaging apps to communicate outside of official channels.

If your child has suddenly become withdrawn, shows anxiety around a specific person, or exhibits age-inappropriate sexual knowledge, it’s time to have a gentle, open conversation.

Seeking Justice: Your Legal Rights in Pennsylvania

If you suspect your child was a victim of any predator, the road to justice involves two distinct paths:

• Criminal Prosecution

The criminal justice system focuses on punishing the perpetrator. Crimes against children are pursued aggressively in Pennsylvania. Reporting to ChildLine (1-800-932-0313) or local law enforcement is the first step. This triggers an investigation that can lead to arrests and jail time, ensuring the predator can no longer harm others in the community.

• Civil Litigation

While the criminal case focuses on the individual, a civil lawsuit focuses on the institutions that allowed the abuse to happen.

In this scenario, your Pittsburgh injury lawyer will urge you to pursue schools, sports leagues, or organizations that may have been negligent. Did they fail to conduct proper background checks? Did they ignore previous complaints? A civil case allows parents to seek compensation for the child’s therapy, medical bills, and emotional distress. More importantly, it forces these organizations to change their policies so this never happens again.

Pennsylvania’s Statute of Limitations

Before you seek justice with the help of a Pittsburgh sex abuse attorney, it’s important to note certain significant improvements.

Pennsylvania has undergone considerable changes regarding the Statute of Limitations for child sex abuse. Victims now have much longer to come forward—often well into adulthood—to seek civil damages. Even if the abuse happened years ago, legal avenues are still open.

The Importance of a Victim-Centered Approach

The trauma of abuse doesn’t disappear with an arrest. Healing requires a village. We’re fortunate to have Children’s Advocacy Centers in Pennsylvania that provide “forensic interviews.” These are conducted by professionals trained to talk to children in a way that’s non-traumatizing while still gathering the evidence needed for court.

As a parent, your primary role is to be a safe harbor. Listen without judgment, reassure your child that it wasn’t their fault, and seek professional counseling immediately. Only when you’re ready, reach out to the best Pittsburgh sex abuse attorney.

How to Take the First Step for Justice

No parent should have to navigate the aftermath of child abuse alone. The legal system is complex, and the emotional toll is heavy. If you believe your child was harmed by Sean Dicer during his time at Highlands School District or through his photography business, now is the time to act. Even if you’re dealing with a similar situation elsewhere in the state, here’s what you can do today:

• Report to authorities: Contact the Allegheny County Police tip line at 833-ALL-TIPS if you have information regarding the Dicer case.
• Consult with an attorney: Seeking a Pittsburgh injury lawyer who specializes in child abuse cases is crucial. They can help you understand if the school district or other entities failed in their “duty of care” to protect your child.
• Prioritize mental health: Reach out to organizations like PA ARD or local crisis centers to find therapists who specialize in childhood trauma.

Justice isn’t just about a prison sentence but about reclaiming your child’s future and holding every responsible party accountable. Your voice is the most powerful tool in the fight to keep Pennsylvania’s children safe.

If you need guidance on the legal steps, reach out to us at 412-387-6901. Don’t hesitate to seek confidential consultation with our Pittsburgh injury lawyers, who are dedicated to protecting victims of abuse.

Failing to comply with the registration requirements in Pennsylvania will subject him or her to a second or third degree felony charge, and might impose penalties that include a maximum amount of $15,000 fine along with a sentence of imprisonment up to 7 years or a fine amount up to $25, 000 carrying a prison sentence of 10 years. This is done to persuade most of the offenders to adhere to these registration laws. Apart from this, even the non-residents of Pennsylvania who have been convicted of such an offense in this state, irrespective of where they reside, are required to register, given that they (1) study or work in Pennsylvania, and (2) were charged with a violent sexual offense. The non-resident offenders must make the registration within the span of time as determined by the “Tier” related to the offense for which they have been convicted.

For instance, if your alleged crime falls under a Tier I offense, then you will be required to register for 15 years. For Tier II offenses, the registration time will be 25 years, and for Tier III, you will need a permanent registration throughout the lifetime of the offender. Similarly, the offenders under the Tier I category must visit the registration site once every year, and the Tier II offenders have to appear twice every year. And the offenders under Tier III have to make a visit 4 times every year. The transient offenders need to pay a visit every month, irrespective of the Tier under which their offense has been categorized. For those who don’t belong to a particular category will be put under Tier I and have to register for the duration needed by the other jurisdiction.

Offenders who are also Pennsylvania residents must register immediately upon receiving a sentence. Out-of-state offenders have a little extra time, but must register within three business days of either:

The Pennsylvania residents must make their registration immediately after receiving the sentence. But the non-resident offenders will be given a little more time and must do the needful within 3 business days. The PSP then informs the state agency, where the offender presently resides and which is in charge of maintaining the state registry. But the non-residents have to register at home adhering to the laws of the particular state where they reside. Failing to register within the 3 days, even if the cause is a natural disaster, can lead to furthermore criminal allegations and penalties.

When a convicted sex offender registers, they must provide the following information: a DNA sample, a photograph of themselves, their current address, information about their crime, their handprints, and their place of employment.

Registered offenders must check in four times a year to update their information. If they plan to travel to another country, they must tell the authorities well in advance.

Failing to do any of these things is a felony punishable by a prison sentence of five years.

So, you must resort to a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer today if you have been convicted of sex crimes in Pittsburgh or anywhere else in Pennsylvania. Discuss your case with him or her to protect your legal rights and get complete guidance on how to manage the criminal proceedings.

Accidentally stumbling across a child pornographic link is certainly a horrifying situation in terms of legal entanglements. Some of the harshest and most stringent laws are passed for sex crimes that involve children. Not only are these criminal allegations serious for the sort of penalties you will be exposed to, but the kind of social stigma that these charges carry is terrible, and a suspected or convicted offender is often reviled by family, friends, and including spouses.

Pennsylvania also imposes quite strict penalties for such criminal charges upon those who have been proven guilty for the possession of and practice in the making of child pornography.

According to the Pennsylvania Criminal Code Chapter 18 Section 6312(d), child pornography possession can be described as-“Any person who intentionally views or knowingly possesses or controls any book, magazine, pamphlet, slide, photograph, film, videotape, computer depiction or other material depicting a child under the age of 18 years engaging in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such act commits an offense.”

The internet consists of content which is not labeled or mislabeled too, and there will be people with malicious intent who purposely try to misname files and share them in order to incriminate the users. Therefore, it becomes crucial to prove the fact that your viewing of any such material was purely accidental and was not at all deliberate. Here are a few things that should be considered while making a decision in this regard.

1. What amount of time was spent by the viewer on this particular site?
2. Was any of the links or the files that were accessed by the viewer shared or distributed elsewhere?
3. Was the content being accessed by the owner of the computer, or was it a guest using it?

Possession of child pornography is classified as a federal crime if the possession entails the transfer of content across states using the computer. But even the federal statute too, in a similar fashion to Pennsylvania statute, emphasizes the deliberate possession or accessing of the content. The statute also covers two kinds of defenses that may be used by a lawyer to protect the defendant.

• Possession of fewer than three images by the defendant
• Reasonable steps taken by the defendant to destroy the image or filed a report to the law enforcement agency regarding the issue and enabled the agency to access the image without sharing or distributing it to the public

State and federal statutes try to give ample protection to people who have been accidentally involved in pornographic content involving children or minors. But it is essential that if you or someone you know finds themselves entangled in such a matter, you should ensure that they resort to an experienced and skilled Pittsburgh criminal defense lawyer who will be able to give the best legal representation along with protecting your rights and interests effectively.

In a case like this, it’s of vital importance that you call an attorney right away. Many, like those at Logue Law, offer free consultations. This is a perfect opportunity for you to ask an expert about your case. He can take the facts as you have presented them to him, and identify your defense needs quickly. And, if you have nothing to worry about, he’ll tell you that, as well.

Most people who accidentally download child porn do not find the police knocking on their doors, but if it does happen to you, rest assured, we’re here for you.

At Logue Law Group, we understand how grave and painful a case of sexual assault can be for the victim. We approach the case with complete discretion and compassion and our Pittsburgh sexual abuse lawyer will ensure that you or your loved one gets the rightful justice.

What is Sexual Assault

Rape, an attempt of rape and even touching someone through cloth without their permission, all are considered sexual assault.

In the USA, the definition of sexual assault for different states has the same factor. It is considered to be the act where the victim has not given consent and is pressured or coerced and incapacitated or if the victim is minor.

Since 1993, all fifty states and the District of Columbia consider marital rape to be a criminal offense as well. The consent in any sexual act can be withdrawn at any point (even during it).

What is Forcible Rape

Forcible rape is a crime where the perpetrator has used physical means to force another person to perform a sexual act without his or her consent. Research offers some shocking statistics of forcible rape that you must know.

• Almost 20% of women have said that they have been raped forcibly at one point in their life.
• In 80% of the cases of forcible rape, the victim was below 25 years of age.
• Most of the sexual violence happens on college campuses. But only 20% of these assaults get reported.
• 2% of victims of forcible rape are men. 30% of them were raped when they were children.
• CDC says that only half of the forcible cases get reported and only 25% perpetrators get arrested.
• The reason for the low reporting is that the rapist is familiar to the victim. They can be ex-lovers, dating partners, spouses or someone the victim knew.

Child Sexual Abuse

When an adult or an adolescent person pressures, coerces and manipulates a child to perform a sexual act for sexual gratification, it is called child sexual abuse. It can have numerous forms including:

• Forcible rape
• Psychologically pressuring the child for sexual gratification
• Exposing the child to pornographic images
• Watching child pornography

The effect of child sexual abuse in the mind of the victim can have a serious impact. In many cases, the victim suffers from depression, anxiety, PTSD and many other issues for his/her entire life. And as a trusted person has abused them, it takes a toll on their minds.

These cases include the perpetrator who has the position of authority and trust, like parents, siblings, relatives, camp counselors, Boy Scout leaders and even priests. Most of the cases remain unreported as the child is often too young to understand the assault or are bribed to not open their mouth or be manipulated.

Connect With Pittsburgh Sexual Abuse Lawyer

Come to Logue Law Group if you are looking for a Pittsburgh sexual abuse lawyer. We have a very clear understanding of these cases and we ensure that you or your loved one gets the rightful justice. Call us today for a free consultation.

John O’Donnell, age 50, has been accused of attempting to produce, distribute, and possess material that depicts the sexual exploitation of minors.

The grand jury handed down an indictment last week, and officials arrested O’Donnell on March 23rd.

Today, O’Donnell was ordered detained pending trial by a judge.

Allegedly, between February and April of 2015, O’Donnell forced a child to perform sexual acts and recorded them, intending to produce a video of it. Then, in October of 2017, he allegedly distributed sexually explicit videos and images involving children. Some of those children were under the age of 12. In late December of that year, he was alleged to have possessed other, similar, files.

Federal prosecutors said that if he is convicted, O’Donnell could be imprisoned for up to 210 years, be required to pay a fine of $1 million, or both.

The FBI is helping U.S. Attorney Shanicka L Kennedy to prosecute O’Donnell. Additional assistance is being provided by the state Attorney General’s Office, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, and the Allegheny County Police.

Children who have been sexually abused, which is what child pornography is considered, will often have difficulty sleeping. They may suffer nightmares. Often, they will be hesitant to spend time with a particular person. They may have knowledge of a sexual nature that they should not have at their age. They may become violent or withdrawn.

As you can see from the potential consequences that Mr. O’Donnell faces, child pornography is a felony, which makes it a serious crime. And, O’Donnell has a triple-whammy in terms of charges. However, there are avenues his attorney can take in his defense.

One of the things the lawyer will look at is the child’s testimony. Often, investigators will ask the child leading questions, which taints the testimony. If he can prove that happened, it will go a long way toward getting the charges reduced or dismissed.

Prosecutors must prove that O’Donnell knowingly made the recordings and distributed them. His lawyer might try to show that O’Donnell brought them into the state for scientific, educational, governmental, or medical reasons. Any of those are legitimate reasons for having the pictures.

If he ends up getting convicted, O’Donnell might be required to register as a sex offender for at least 15 years, if not longer, assuming he isn’t sentenced to a long prison term. He won’t have to register until his release.

Megan’s Law requires sex offenders, especially those who have committed offenses against children, to register within three days after their release from jail. They must provide a handprint, a DNA sample, a current address, information about their current employer (such as address and phone number), a photograph, and information about the crime they have committed. Out of state residents convicted of child porn violations in Pennsylvania are also required to register.

Pennsylvania recently did away with its Megan’s Law tier system. Now, in some cases, an offender can get off the list after ten years of no further convictions, depending upon the facts of his or her case.

Beyond the legal ramifications, Mr. O’Donnell will face social consequences, as well. His crime will be known to all his neighbors, family, and friends. He will not be allowed to live within a certain radius of any school, park, or other prohibited place. If he was using the Internet to view or distribute child porn, he could be banned from using it in the future, making job searches, social media use, and other online activities, like paying bills, more difficult. His reputation will be shattered, and his life forever changed.

O’Donnell’s attorney will likely conduct his own investigation into the case. It’s too important to leave it to the police and state investigators.

In the state of Pennsylvania, the following are considered sexual crimes:

Rape: A person is guilty of committing rape in Pennsylvania when he or she engages in sexual intercourse:

• by forcible compulsion
• by threat of compulsion
• with a person who is unconscious or with a person who is unaware that sex is happening
• when the person has substantially impaired the victim’s power to control the situation without their knowledge (through drugs, intoxicants, etc.) for the purpose of preventing resistance
• with a person who suffers from a mental disability

Being convicted of rape, a first-degree felony, in Pennsylvania is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, as well as a fine.

Rape of a Child: A person is guilty of committing the crime of rape of a child in Pennsylvania if he or she engages in sexual intercourse with a victim younger than 13. Being convicted of rape of a child – a first-degree felony – in Pennsylvania is punishable by as many as 40 years in prison.

Rape of a Child with Serious Bodily Injury: A person is guilty of committing the crime of rape of a child in Pennsylvania when he or she engages in sexual intercourse with a victim younger than 13 who suffers serious bodily injury during the course of the offense. Being convicted of rape of a child with serious bodily injury – a first-degree felony – is punishable by a maximum sentence of life in prison in Pennsylvania.

Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse: A person is guilty of committing involuntary deviate sexual intercourse in Pennsylvania when he or she engages in deviate sexual intercourse with a victim:

• by forcible compulsion
• by threat of forcible compulsion
• who is unconscious or where the person knows that the complainant is unaware that sexual intercourse is happening
• whose power to control his or her conduct was impaired by the accused
• who suffers from a mental disability that renders them incapable of consent
• who is younger than 16 years old, and the accused is four or more years older than the victim (and the pair are not married)

Being convicted of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse – a felony in the first degree – in Pennsylvania is punishable by jail. You should promptly consult a sex crime attorney in Pennsylvania if you are facing this type of charge.

Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse with a Child: A person is guilty of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child in Pennsylvania when he or she engages in deviate sexual intercourse with a complainant who is younger than 13. Being convicted of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child is a felony in the first degree in Pennsylvania punishable by jail.

Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse with a Child with Serious Bodily Injury: A person is guilty of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child with serious bodily injury in Pennsylvania when he or she has sexual intercourse with a child who is younger than 13, and that child suffers serious bodily injury during the course of the process. Being convicted of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child with serious bodily injury – a first-degree felony – in Pennsylvania is punishable by jail.

Institutional Sexual Assault: A person is guilty of institutional sexual assault in Pennsylvania when he or she is an employee or agent of the Department of Corrections, or a county correctional authority, youth development center, juvenile detention center, or other licensed residential facility or mental health institution serving children or youth, and engages in sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, or indecent contact with a patient, inmate, resident, or detainee of the facility. In Pennsylvania, institutional sexual assault is a third-degree felony.

Institutional Sexual Assault of a Minor: A person is guilty of institutional sexual assault in Pennsylvania when he or she is an employee or agent of the Department of Corrections, or a county correctional authority, youth development center, juvenile detention center, or other licensed residential facility or mental health institution serving children or youth and engages in sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, or indecent contact with an inmate detainee, patient, or resident who is younger than 18. In Pennsylvania, institutional sexual assault is a third-degree felony. In Pennsylvania, institutional sexual assault of a minor is a third-degree felony, but a Pennsylvania sex crime attorney can help you fight the charges to the fullest extent.

*There are also institutional sexual assault statutes that deal with school and daycare employees.

Aggravated Indecent Assault: A person is guilty of aggravated indecent assault in Pennsylvania when he or she engages in penetration – however slight – of the genitals or anus of a complainant with any part of the body for any reason other than "good faith" medical procedures, hygienic procedures or law-enforcement procedures if:

• he or she does so without consent
• he or she does so by forcible compulsion
• the complainant is unconscious
• the complainant suffers from a mental disability that renders them incapable of consent
• the complainant is younger than 13, or the complainant is younger than 16 and the accused is four or more years older than the complainant (and not married to each other)

Aggravated indecent assault in Pennsylvania is a second-degree felony.

Aggravated Indecent Assault of a Child: A person is guilty of aggravated indecent assault in Pennsylvania when he or she engages in penetration – however slight – of the genitals or anus of a complainant with any part of the body for any reason other than "good faith" medical procedures, hygienic procedures or law-enforcement procedures if the complainant is younger than 13. Aggravated indecent assault of a child is a first-degree felony in Pennsylvania.

Indecent Assault: A person is guilty of indecent assault in Pennsylvania when he or she has indecent contact with a complainant or makes the complainant come into contact with them, with seminal fluid or with urine or feces for the purpose of sexual arousal and:

• without consent
• by forcible compulsion
• by threat of forcible compulsion
• the complainant is unconscious
• the complainant has a mental illness and cannot give consent
• the complainant is younger than 13, or, if 16, the accused is four years or older than the complainant

Indecent Exposure: A person is guilty of indecent exposure when someone exposes their genitals in any public place or in any place where other people are present, or in a place in which he or she knows (or should have known) that it would likely offend, affront or alarm. A sex crime lawyer can help Pennsylvania residents defend themselves from these types of charges.

Unlawful Dissemination of Intimate Image: A person is guilty of unlawful dissemination of an intimate image in Pennsylvania when he or she disseminates an image with intent to harass, annoy or alarm a current or former sexual or intimate partner in a state of nudity or engaged in sexual conduct. Unlawful dissemination of an intimate image is a second-degree misdemeanor in Pennsylvania (a first-degree misdemeanor when the person depicted is a minor).

Things You Must Know About IDSI Charges

In Pennsylvania, engaging in deviate sexual intercourse by force without consent is termed as IDSI. The complainant can be of either gender. It can involve sex with animals and penetration with foreign objects, making it different from rape. You can be charged for involuntary deviate sexual intercourse if you:

• Prevent the person you are having sex with from resisting either by force or by threat
• Engage in IDSI with a person who is not conscious or who is otherwise unaware that you are having sex with them
• Get a person drunk or high so that they can’t resist when you have IDSI with them
• Engage in deviate sexual acts with a person suffering from mental disability that makes them incapable of granting consent
• Engage in deviate sexual acts with someone below 16 years of age, or four or more years younger than you, and who isn’t your spouse

IDSI is one of the most serious crimes a person can commit. It is a felony of the first degree and can result in imprisonment up to 20 years. An additional 10 years of imprisonment can be imposed when the victim is incapacitated by the use of drugs or alcohol.

IDSI with a Child

• Having IDSI with a child under the age of 13 is a first-degree felony, even if he or she consented.
• If the sex act caused the child to be injured, the punishment is even harsher.

IDSI with a child can result in a prison sentence of 40 years.

Being Accused of IDSI

Sometimes, people are accused of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse as a way for someone who holds a grudge to get back at them. Other times, someone may have misunderstood something you or someone else said. Accusations such as these might not be enough to lead to a conviction of IDSI, but could still result in your arrest, with charges being filed against you—which can still ruin your life and reputation.

Frequently, drugs or alcohol are involved when someone is charged with IDSI. You could be charged with this crime when you thought your sexual partner had given consent, but he or she later claims that they were too drunk or high to give it.

How to Deal with IDSI Charges

If you have been charged with IDSI, you should immediately do the following:

• Hire an attorney
• Do not make any statements to the police or answer any of their questions without your Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney present.

How Can Our Pittsburgh Lawyers Help You?

At Logue Law Group, we are a highly reputable law firm with extensive experience handling these matters. We have handled dozens of sex-related charges and provide the best defense to our clients in court. We study the merits of the case in detail and suggest to you the best possible legal course of action to help you earn acquittal or a lighter sentence.

You need to remain calm and strong, and work to protect your rights and dignity. At Logue Law Group, our Pittsburgh criminal defense attorneys offer you the best possible representation. No matter the charges or stigma, we will fight for you! Call us today at 412.387.6901 or 412.387.6901.

It is intimidating to register yourself as a sex offender. The humiliating experience can tear your life apart. But the fact remains, if you have been convicted of a sex crime and have been charged as a sex offender, you must comply with the law. If you were convicted of a violent sex crime, you must register for the rest of your life.

The Pennsylvania Sex Offender Registration and Notification Law, also called Megan’s Law and most recently updated in 2018, makes it compulsory for convicted sex offenders to register with the local authorities promptly and accurately. Failure to obey this law can result in longer sentences. If you have failed to register as a sex offender with the local authorities in Pittsburgh or elsewhere in Pennsylvania, you need to immediately seek help from a Pittsburgh Sex Crime Lawyer.Things You Need to Know Regarding Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

There are a number of ways in which you can fail to comply with the compulsory registration, and these include:

• Failure to register with the Pennsylvania State Police
• Not verifying your address or being photographed
• Providing inaccurate information while registering

What Can You be Charged for?

Failing to register can result in a first-, second-, or third-degree felony charge, which could mean many years in prison. There are many factors that would decide the level of the charge, and this would include the severity of your original conviction, the number of years you have failed to register, and if you have provided inaccurate information to the authorities. You should not defend yourself alone even if the law enforcement agencies have failed to send you a notice.To-Do List When You are Charged

In the event you are charged for failure to register as a sex offender, we recommend you do the following things:

• Do not unnecessarily anger the arresting officer
• Hire a lawyer
• Do not try to prove your innocence or answer any of their questions without consulting your counsel
• Politely refuse to give a statement in the absence of your attorney

If you talk to the police or the prosecutors at any circumstance without the presence of a legal advocate, your words can be taken out of context and used against you during the legal proceedings. The legal attorney will carefully examine every aspect of your case and investigate if you did have any obligation to register. You must cooperate with your Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney at all times and provide him with all the relevant details regarding the case.Penalties for Failing to Register

Failing to register as a sex offender is a serious thing. By not registering, a person could wind up with fines as large as $25,000, and a jail sentence of up to 10 years.

In addition to the legal consequences, you would also face financial, social, and family penalties, possibly losing your job, your reputation, and your spouse and children.How Can We Help You?

At Logue Law Group, we have established a strong reputation as a leading Pittsburgh criminal defense practice. Sean Logue is a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer Rising Star who brings years of experience to the table and enjoys a 10.0 Avvo rating. We would provide assistance immediately, and even in the future, as you would need to continue complying with the registration process, including situations like if you are moving out of the state. We will thoroughly investigate the matter to look for every avenue to help you. We have built our reputation on protecting the rights of our clients and preserving their reputation in the community.

If you have failed to register as a sex offender, contact the expert Pittsburgh criminal defense attorneys at Logue Law Group. We will stand beside and guide you to the best course of legal action to defeat the label of sex offender.

If you fail to register, call us immediately at 412.387.6901 or 412.387.6901 or contact us online.

Dennis Edward Kuskie, age 46, is the alleged suspect. He accused the two women of stealing $1,500 from him at about 11:30 PM on November 17. Each of the women is facing a criminal charge. Kuskie says the theft happened while he was briefly out of the room.

Charged with prostitution are Alisha Vaccaro, age 20, of Monongahela and Marisa Marie Gillard, age 26, of Union Township.

The hotel where the incident happened is a Holiday Inn & Express Suites on Finley Road.

According to text messages on Vaccaro’s phone, Kuskie offered the women $2,000 to "hang out" with him. Police also say that there were photographs in text messages that were sent to Kuskie of the two women together.

The cases were issued in summons on Tuesday in Monessen by a senior District Judge.

Pennsylvania law considers both hiring a prostitute and prostitution to be crimes. A person hiring a prostitute is charged with patronizing or solicitation, and the person hiring themselves out for sexual activity is charged with prostitution. A first offense, in either case, is a third-degree misdemeanor that comes with a jail sentence of up to one year. The third time a person is charged with prostitution, the charge is a second-degree misdemeanor, and every time after that, it’s a first-degree misdemeanor. The jail time and fines go up at each level.

If a person commits the crime of prostitution knowing that they have AIDS or are HIV positive, he or she will be charged with a third-degree felony, which comes with a much harsher punishment.

Laws addressing prostitution exist for a reason. Like all statutes, their purpose is to protect people, from others and from themselves. Besides the obvious problem of the spreading of diseases, prostitutes and their johns often commit other crimes when “hanging out” together. This case is a prime example, with the two women allegedly stealing Mr. Kuskie’s money. Many times, prostitutes are looking for money to support a drug habit.

This past August, Pittsburgh police cracked down on prostitution, arresting forty people in a single week for prostitution, soliciting prostitution, and promoting the sex trade. Often, prostitution is part and parcel of sex trafficking, another very good reason to shut the trade down. Parents sometimes sell their children to sex traffickers to support their drug habits, which then introduces the kids to both prostitution and drugs. It’s a vicious cycle that police and others are trying to stop.

There are defenses that a good attorney can use to help Mr. Kuskie and his lady friends to get out from under all or some of their charges. If no sex act took place, for example, then no prostitution happened. If the three had not gotten around to even attempting sex, then the same would be true. It seems that the only money that was exchanged was the theft of the $1,500, and I’m not sure that counts as an exchange, since it was not freely given on Kuskie’s part.

So, while Kuskie and his female friends appear to have been together consensually, who knows what was happening behind the scenes. Also, the alleged crimes were committed at a local hotel, which is a common scenario for this type of activity. This kind of publicity cannot be good for the owner of the hotel. Who wants to spend the night in a place where that kind of thing goes on, especially if they have kids?

What amazes me in the case is that this man is engaging in, or intending to engage in, something illegal and then call the police when his new “friends” steal his money. Did he think the cops would not recognize the situation? Or did he believe they would ignore the circumstances and simply insist the women return his money?

Sean Michael Hoffman, age 20, of 254 Duff Street, was charged by state police with sexual assault, statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors, and rape. The child reported the alleged abuse on October 20.

Hoffman had contacted the teen via Snapchat, a social media network, police said. The teen also told them that Hoffman had solicited sex from her more than once. According to the criminal complaint, she told him repeatedly that she did not want to have sex.

The police complaint states that Hoffman threatened to harm the teen’s parents if she did not comply the last time he requested sex.

Because she was afraid that her parents would get hurt, the girl agreed to meet Hoffman at the post office in Bobtown on August 6. Police say he took her into the woods a little way and allegedly raped her.

Hoffman was interviewed by police at the Greene County jail, where he was already being held on unrelated charges. Police report that at first, Hoffman denied knowing the victim. Later, he allegedly told them that he did have sex with her and thought she was 18 years old. Police say he told them that he and the girl used Snapchat to send each other nude pictures and videos. He says he stopped communicating with her when she told him how old she was.

Hoffman is being held without bail on the new charges, after being arraigned before District Judge Lee Watson Saturday evening. He will stand before Watson at a preliminary hearing at 10:30 AM on December 11.

Mr. Hoffman has put himself in a difficult situation. Thankfully for him, his alleged victim is over the age of 13. If she had been younger, he could have faced rape of a child charges and been looking at 40 years in prison. However, the statutory sexual assault charges, which are a second-degree felony, can still net him 20 years, which is a significant period of time. The fact that Hoffman thought the teen was 18 is not an acceptable defense, either. He’ll need a skilled Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney to help him with this one.

Hoffman’s life will be forever changed, especially if he’s convicted. He’ll have to register as a sex offender, for one thing, and that’s something all his neighbors will be able to discover. No matter where he moves, at least in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, he’ll have to register. Even potential employers and colleges can look, and he can be denied jobs, apartments, and educational opportunities.

As far as criminal penalties, Hoffman allegedly threatened the girl to get her to have sex with him. He’s facing first-degree felony charges, and those mean up to 20 years in jail, if convicted. That’s a long time – he’d be twice as old as he is now when he got out if he had to serve the entire sentence.

Hoffman’s attorney has defenses available to help the man. He’ll want to look at the girl and her testimony first off. How reliable is her testimony? Did she really tell him she didn’t want to have sex, or was it consensual and she regretted it after the fact? Did the two of them have an argument at some point, and the charges are her way of getting revenge? What forensic evidence is there, and how was it handled?

Even just being charged with what he has been will alter his life. Beyond just the court hearings, it hit the newspaper. People read newspapers, and people make judgments, good or bad, about what and who they see on those pages. Hoffman could find that his friends and family distance themselves from him because they don’t want to be painted with the same brush. It’s sad but true.

There’s the Look at My New Hair Cut selfie. There’s the Here’s What I’m Having for Dinner Selfie, and the Out with My Friends Selfie – and the much-maligned Duck Face Selfie.

Seemingly new to the scene is the I Just Committed a Crime Selfie. And take it from this criminal defense lawyer, that’s worse than any number of duck face poses.

You’d think that would be self-explanatory, right? I mean, you don’t exactly need a criminal defense attorney to tell you that posting selfies when you are actively being pursued by police is kind of a bad idea.

But alas, this is why people need Pittsburgh Criminal Defense Lawyer: Because they just don’t get it.

Which brings me to 22-year-old Donald Harrison.

Mr. Harrison, of Beaver County, posted a selfie as he sat on a Greyhound bus in Pittsburgh recently. He captioned it, “IT’S TIME TO LEAVE PA.” The problem for Mr. Harrison, of course, was that he was allegedly attempting to flee assault charges.

Police, who weren’t able to catch up with Harrison immediately following alleged assault of a woman in her apartment, noticed the selfie on Facebook, along with a message indicating he was traveling back to his hometown in South Carolina.

This story ends with police stopping the Greyhound bus on which Mr. Harrison was a passenger, where he was taken into custody near Youngstown, Ohio.

While the moral of most stories should always be, “Don’t do illegal stuff,” that ship had seemingly already sailed for Mr. Harrison.

So the moral of his story? If you’ve already done something for which you will likely be charged criminally, don’t post a selfie telling people about what you did, etc., and then NOT think that the police aren’t gonna find it.

Social media has made the world a smaller place, and has added a new dimension for police to investigate. And, police are finding that using Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites is helping them solve more crimes.

Of course, thoughtless criminals posting selfies makes it easier.

Still, social media allows officers to see a person’s connections – their family, friends, and often, coworkers. By monitoring a criminal’s account, the authorities can find proof of wrongdoing as well as identify accomplices, and can locate the ones who got away.

All this raises the question of privacy, of course. Unless a person’s Facebook profile is wide open, cops will need to hack into the account or request access from Facebook itself. The courts will spend a lot of time in the future, refining what is and is not permissible for police departments to do in this arena.

And if you are compelled to call the police to admit your illegal activity, do yourself a favor and call a Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyer before you do – you will thank me later.

All kinds of criminal charges from fraud, theft, and domestic violence, child abuse to traffic violations, DUI charges, and drug crimes have very severe consequences with harsh penalties. Pennsylvania laws are quite strict for all of these serious criminal charges and do not discriminate on the basis of status and authority. Such serious convictions can prove to be detrimental for the rest of your life. All your criminal offenses are permanently put on your criminal record, which is often accessible to the public. If these crucial details of your life happen to reach the graduate school you are applying to, or if your future employers seek such information, it might cause an impending doom on your future. Besides, you will have to face substantial fines and considerable jail time.

So, it is always better to resort to a committed, reliable, and experienced Pittsburgh Criminal Lawyer who understands your case and will go to any extent in order to fight for your rights and privileges.