The 5th Amendment: Is it a Good Defense Against Sex Trafficking Charges?
The 5th Amendment of the U.S Constitution states that:
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
That’s the reason why our expert Pittsburgh criminal lawyers say that asserting the 5th amendment rights can be a great defense strategy, even for charges as severe as sex trafficking. So, let’s explore this blog and find out how our experienced lawyers at the Logue Law Group helped a client avoid sex trafficking charges and walk away freely.
How it Started
Last year, a 35-year-old man was held by the police for paying a minor to engage in sexual intercourse.
Now, it was very evident that the man had no such intentions of doing what he was held for! But the cops, who happened to be a part of a large federal task force, were investigating a sex trafficking case. As a result, the officers wanted the man to cooperate and testify against the ‘minor’, whom the cops suspected to be the kingpin of the trafficking gang.
At this point, the man got really confused. He didn’t know what to do, and fortunately, he called our expert Pittsburgh criminal lawyers. And this was one of the most important moves that saved the person from self-incrimination! Why so?
As soon as our lawyers took up the case, they became eligible to serve as an intermediary between our client and the investigating officers who were preventing him from being charged.
How Did this Help?
Well, in cases like this one, there is always a possibility that the ones who are held would expose themselves by answering direct questions. But that would have landed our client in jail too, as his statement would have exposed his association with the ‘minor’, although he wasn’t directly involved in the whole sex trafficking scenario.
But our expert group of Pittsburgh criminal lawyers assisted the man throughout the hearings and asserted his 5th amendment rights under the Constitution.
Matters settled for some time, and at the beginning of the present year, the U.S Attorney issued a subpoena, which required our client to testify against the target (the minor).
But, in the course of this action, there was a high risk of our client self-incriminating himself. Because a testimony would also levy criminal charges on our client for his involvement in this matter. That’s when our Pittsburgh criminal lawyers had a discussion with the federal prosecutor, and clearly stated that our client is going to assert his 5th amendment rights for protection against self-incrimination.
In the end, the man was not forced to testify in a case that could’ve ended his career, and his life at one go! The consequences for sex trafficking charges can be very severe, and that’s why such cases require the assistance of a professional Pittsburgh criminal lawyer.
Have you been held for similar charges? Don’t wait, and call us at 844.PITT.DUI for an appointment today.