Phoenix Criminal Defense Law Blog

The creation of the internet made necessary an entirely new area of law and regulation. While the internet has continued to grow and adapt at lightning speed, the laws determining what is a computer crime and how they should be handled has barely nudged past the starting line. Internet crimes are unique because they can often involve gray legal areas, where the action, if viewed one way, is legal and harmless and, when viewed another, is actually hurtful and illegal.

The controversial Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, known as CISPA, may have reached the end of the line in the U.S. Senate. Earlier the White House has released a statement saying the bill would be vetoed if passed to the President as is due to various privacy concerns parties have raised against the bill. The bill, which passed in the House, will not be voted on, according to Senate staffers. Instead, various Senators are looking to create their own internet bills in the coming months. This follows the trend from last year, when the House passed a similar bill only to have it not picked up in the Senate, and replaced with a more specific bill that avoided addressing anything not related to the computer security of critical infrastructure.

In recent years there has been a growing interest in Arizona in the prevention of crimes against minors. Specifically much interest is being given to preventing sex crimes against minors from occurring and punishing those who commit such crimes. In attempting to right the wrongs of the past sexual abuse cases currently being prosecuted may involve alleged crimes that occurred decades ago with defendants who are well into their twilight years.

A famous artist who is known for Texas' "Cadillac Ranch" was recently indicted on sexual assault charges stemming from allegations that he engaged in sexual acts with six teenagers. The artist who has suffered a stroke and prostate cancer is currently out on bond. The indictment added four new alleged victims in addition to the 15 and 16 year old boys he was initially arrested for allegedly assaulting. The artist allegedly gave the boys gifts in exchange for sexual acts.

The United States war on drugs has been ongoing for the better part of a century. In that time there have been many schemes, laws, and propaganda enacted to alleviate the drug crisis. Drug charges are the number one reason the United States' prison system is overpopulated and over utilized. Another by-product of the war on drugs has been the creation of harmful synthetic drugs, which are supposed to mirror the effects of natural illegal drugs.

States are continuing their crack down on synthetic drugs after their negative effects became widely publicized. In Arizona, state senators have passed yet another bill aimed at eliminating the sale and use of such drugs in their state. While other measures have been previously passed, those measures fell short as the drug makers were able to alter the drug enough to stay within the law. These synthetic drugs are harmful as the effects can sometimes lead to violent rampages resulting in the deaths of not only the user, but potentially innocent bystanders.

In the United States, each state is able to create its own set of criminal laws. This system allows states, for the most part, to determine the penalties for crimes that occur within their jurisdictions. Types of crimes that carry with them severe penalties in most states are sexual offenses. Unfortunately for many, the stigma associated with sex crimes is so great that it can severely affect the lives of those falsely accused.

An 18-year-old man was recently arrested in Florida after being accused of having sex with a minor. While the man has yet to be formally charged, his arrest stems from an alleged relationship he had with a 14-year-old girl. The police allege that he and the girl had sex in 2012, which resulted in the girl becoming pregnant. Before charges could be filed in the case, though, the young man moved to Florida. After his relocation, Arizona issued a warrant for his arrest.