Dallas Attorneys for Sexual Trafficking of a Child

If you’ve been accused of sexual human trafficking of a child, the criminal defense attorneys of the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter are here to help you fight the allegations and charges against you. The basic premise in the legal system is that you are innocent until proven guilty. However, our society automatically assumes that you are guilty if you are accused of a sex crime.

Instead, our legal team will fight to protect your rights and freedom. We will put a considerable number of years of experience in criminal law to work to defend you against these charges and will fight to defend your reputation. We understand the damage that happens to your reputation after you’ve been accused of a sex crime. These charges can impact your ability to rent property, take out a loan, or get a job.

Texas takes human trafficking charges seriously. Under Texas Penal Code § 20A.02 (a) (7) or (8), human trafficking is “kidnapping, unlawful restraint, and smuggling of persons.” Under this code, even the person knowingly allowing another person to use any real estate to commit an offense has legally broken the law.

Few criminal charges are as emotionally charged as sex crimes against a child. Even friends and family may jump to conclusions about your guilt based solely on the accusations. If a person is convicted of sex trafficking, they face severe consequences and must have their name on the national sex offender registry after leaving prison. You don’t want to place the responsibility for your rights and freedom in the hands of just any lawyer.

You have options in Dallas. You can choose an experienced sex crime criminal defense attorney from the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter. Don’t trust your freedom to an inexperienced attorney or an overworked public defender. Call the Dallas sex crime defense attorneys of the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter today at (214) 845-7007 to schedule your confidential case evaluation. Contact us today.

girl being trafficked

How Does the Law Define Sexual Trafficking of a Child

According to the United States Department of Justice, child sex trafficking is the “recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a minor for the purpose of a commercial sex act.”

Unfortunately, no child is immune regardless of their race, age, or socioeconomic status. Law enforcement agencies use technology and the internet to track sex traffickers, who also use mobile devices to facilitate a worldwide marketing channel. Digital footprints can be manipulated, and while they provide an avenue to track human traffickers, they can sometimes result in an inaccurate accusation.

The proximity of Texas to an international border may also mean charges can include international sex trafficking of minors. U.S. federal penal code 18 U.S.C § 1591 defines sex trafficking, which does not require proof that a minor was transported across state or international borders. Contact us today.

Do I Need a Human Trafficking Lawyer?

A human trafficking charge is a serious accusation, and a conviction can cause permanent and irreparable damage to your reputation and your future. If you have been charged with the sex trafficking of a child, you must contact an experienced criminal defense attorney right away.

The Texas legal system can be complex and intimidating. Although you may initially have one charge against you, it is common to be subjected to numerous penalties and charges. These are nearly impossible to defend on your own.

The legal team at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter wants you to know that you are not alone, and we are ready to stand up and fight for you. It is crucial to begin mounting a strong defense against these charges as early as possible. This allows our legal team to gather evidence and fight for your freedom.

Unfortunately, an inexperienced lawyer may not know how to handle your defense properly. Even worse, the prosecution could bully them into accepting a deal not in their best interest. Although the public defender’s office is staffed with experienced lawyers, they also have a large caseload and cannot spend as much time digging into the details of your case.

You need an aggressive criminal defense attorney to represent your rights. Mark T Lassiter, J.D., is that defense attorney. He understands what it takes to win a trial and has the tenacity to fight for the results you need.

Mr. Lassiter was a former Dallas County prosecutor and understands the strategies the prosecutor’s office will use in your case. He’s a tough attorney who doesn’t back down in adversity. His skills have led him to be elected as a Texas Super Lawyer and recognized as one of the top 100 Trial Lawyers in the U.S.

The legal team at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter knows the stress that anyone who is facing a sex crime charge is going through. With the help of our thorough legal team, we may get your charges reduced or dismissed, helping you avoid potential negative life-altering consequences. Don’t hesitate to contact our team at (214) 845-7007 for a free case evaluation.

girl being trafficked

Possible Consequences of a Sexual Trafficking of a Child Charge

Child sex trafficking is a felony charge under state and federal law. Conviction is usually a first-degree felony with a possible life sentence and a $10,000 fine. Some variables affect the sentence, including whether a weapon was used during the crime and whether the accused has a prior conviction or is a habitual offender.

Federal charges can be pursued at the same time as state charges. The prosecutor does not need to provide any evidence that the child crossed state lines or international borders to bring federal charges. Sex trafficking of anyone under the age of 18 is a federal felony. If the child was under 14, or if there was coercion, force, or fraud used, you can be facing not less than 15 years in prison, and a life sentence is possible.

Child sex trafficking charges can be brought after an investigation of a suspicious relationship between an adult and a minor. Investigators will also scrutinize the minor’s activities, friends, family, and even how they spend their money.

Contact an Experienced Human Trafficking Defense Attorney

If you were accused of child sex trafficking, or you believe that you are under investigation, you must contact an experienced Dallas human trafficking criminal defense attorney. The legal team at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter has the experience and the skill you need in an attorney to fight for your rights and protect your freedom. Don’t leave your future in the hands of an inexperienced lawyer. Call us today at (214) 845-7007, or contact us online to schedule your free case evaluation.

TESTIMONIALS

Recommendation for Mark LassiterI am pleased to write a letter of recommendation. I highly recommend Mark Lassiter to others who are seeking such assistance. His representation allowed me to do very little in my case. It was Mark’s proven expertise and his legal knowledge that was valuable in getting my case dismissed. In short, I recommend Mark enthusiastically without reservation and I do believe he would be a valuable asset to you.

- Name Redacted

dear Markplease accept this letter on my and Susan’s behalf. there is a powerful message and testimony we would like to share with you for the first time.for over a year the weight of what happened to Reid was heavy on our souls. at first we held great anger, resentment and disgust toward Angel (the passenger). it became evident after turning 21 the Angel has a severe alcohol problem which my son nor us fully understood. The arrest also brought us great disappointment, frustration and disheartenment toward Reid.We have found that God often surprises us with his answers to our prayers. Prior to the arrest was had been in prayer that God help turn Reid away from selfishness, childishness and destructive ways. We prayed that God move to change him toward everlasting values and better choices in his life. We believe that God answered that prayer with the arrest. We blamed ourselves for bringing this calamity but understood it would take something this powerful to reach him. There is no doubt in our minds this ordeal has placed a permanent imprint on his soul.during the many delays associated with this case we were able to put forgiveness in our hearts toward Angel. Also during the many delays the full weight of the case in our and Reid’s mind triggered conversations pertaining to life decisions and direction. Time allowed us the opportunity to be rid of the noise and cloudiness of our emotions. We believe this to be a part of the master plan that God was overseeing.Only today did the full story become revealed. During this case with all the odds against us can we say without question that God was in it. How else could the series of events occurred within the judicial process that could put the opportunity in to your mind that there was a way to victory. The entire morning Susan and i were in fervent prayer even after your told us we had only a 25% chance of winning.Grace is the receipt of a blessing that is undeserved. Reid did not deserve to win today. We all are eternally marked by the message of grace given to us and you were the instrument that brought the gift to our house. Thank you from bottom of our souls and may God bless and keep you all of your days.

- Name Redacted

Dear Mr. Lassiter,Today you saved my son’s life. When he received a DWI, it broke my heart because I knew it would be on his record forever. It would limit his options in life. He would be paying for his stupid mistake for the rest of his life. At 21 years of age he was overwhelmed with the depth of the problem he created for himself.I decided to find him the best lawyer in Dallas, and I did. I researched lawyers for two days, and then I found you. I knew from the moment I read about you that you were the one we needed. When I met you, I knew instantly that I had complete confidence in you. Even if the result had ended with my son being guilty, I would have had peace knowing that he had had THE BEST lawyer.Listening to you “own” the courtroom today was amazing. You told us in the morning that we only had about 25% chance to win; however, by the middle of the afternoon the case was over before the prosecutors even finished, and we won! What an incredible lawyer you are!I will be grateful forever to you. Your work has given my son a second chance. He left the courtroom today with a whole new perspective on life…thanks to you!Very sincerely,

- Susan Ellis

unless you are already a petty criminal with countless B and C misdemeanors and a misdemeanor A pending, a DWI charge might not really matter much – for all the others counts: Fight it with all you got – get the best professional to your side you can find!Why should you? A simple google search “Texas DWI penalties” will give you an idea what you are looking at: prison, probation, fines, classes, ignition interlock, insurance rate skyrockets and a criminal record for life (yes – this can happen even for a first time DWI in Texas) Now if you read until this point you probably are charged with a DWI (or simply board) and you are shopping for a lawyer – so some basic guidance:a) Same as in real life: You want to be surrounded by people who know what they are talking about. Nobody likes people who constantly brag around, through around the usual business buzz words which doesn’t mean anything. So: Get somebody who is specialized in this field, means if 50% or more of his work is in the field of defending DWI’s that’s probably a good indicator– Mark is one of them – talk to him you will see!b) Educate yourself – thanks to a wonderful innovation by DARPA (which you are using in this moment) you can read all about it: What happened the night before, what’s a SFT, what is a legal stop, how does an Intoxilyzer 5000 work and what flaws does it have, possible plea bargain options (not so tempting ones in TX anyway) – read the stuff, it’s out there and discuss it with your attorney – if he doesn’t want or can’t answer your questions, that’s a pretty good indicator that your sitting in the wrong office, run!– Mark WILL answer your questions – and I’m convinced you cannot surprise him with a question in your case that he can’t answer or will find an answer for you!c) Your lawyer should – more or less – from the beginning be willing to take your case to Trial, all the way. What do you have to lose? If you are a BAC 0.28 candidate and you plea it down to a misdemeanor B it technically looks better on paper – but it will still follow you for life (most employers wouldn’t even consider the difference or know it – a DWI is a DWI…) If you are a BAC 0.09 candidate your chances are even better – (did you know the Intoxilyzer 5000 gives himself a +-0.02 calibration margin? What now, is a BAC 0.09 and hour after driving now under the legal limit? Guess what, the state will state “off course NOT! The magic machine proved he’s Intoxicated and guilty!” That’s why you need a lawyer on your side who is willing to take it to trial!– Mark is a trial lawyer – those people don’t want to plea out, they need the courtroom as their stage, that’s what they love to do, that’s what they are good at – so let him do it for you!d) Money / Costs – completely neglect. This is not the time for price comparison. You are not out there to shop for new hardwood floor for your living room – you are out there to get the best possible outcome in a situation which initial will hurt you if convicted pretty bad (financially), possible cost you your job, destroy your reputation and will follow you around for the rest of your natural life.– Mark will not overcharge you for his service, in my opinion you are getting a great deal. If you have the feeling you cannot afford a lawyer like Mark put it into perspective: if you hire a $500 lawyer and plead guilty maybe to a DWI misdemeanor B, you will pay much more over the years in court costs, classes, probation fees, DPS surcharges, insurance and and and… But if you hire Mark, you have one of the best at your side, you have a real chance – off course Mark isn’t a magic wizard who can make everything go away in a moment’s notice, but 5,10,20 years down the road you don’t want to think “oh boy, I wish I would have fought this thing more aggressively back then…” I was already a bit into my case when I met Mark. Mark has a can do attitude, does not try to beat around the bush and most importantly: He looks at things, tries different avenues, seeks out weaknesses in the case base on the evidence presented – if you meet him, you will have the same experience. During our meetings we discussed alternatives and other options e.g. expert witnesses, jury trial, bench trial, plea agreement (even if he didn’t like that – Mark doesn’t want to plea, he wants to win for his clients)And here is the outcome:A clear acquittal – NOT GUILTY(even better than a dismissal which technically can be reopened by the DA within the statute of limitations – if I understood that right – Not guilty means you are not guilty, case expunged – that’s the end of it!)Mark’s services helped me to get the best possible outcome you can expect when you are charged with a (DWI / DUI) crime and I hope I will never see him again….. (under such circumstances J ) –

- Daniel

I would never use or recommend anyone else for anybody else for a criminal manner.

- Cory M.

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