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As of earlier this year, nearly 5 billion people worldwide are on social media. As social media users, we love to catch up on how our friends and family are doing, repost funny or interesting stories, voice our opinions on various matters, and post about what is happening in our lives. Although social media keeps us all connected and gives us a far-reaching “voice,” posting on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok can have dire consequences if you are being investigated or have been charged with a crime.
If you are facing criminal charges, you should speak with a defense attorney right away. What you say and do during this time will have a significant impact on the outcome of your case. That is why it is critical to work with a Houston criminal defense attorney who can offer expert advice and guidance on how to give yourself the best chance at a favorable outcome. Contact Maverick Ray & Associates today to schedule a FREE, no-obligation consultation. (281) 672-8029.
With courts and juries becoming increasingly willing to consider evidence obtained via social media, investigators and prosecutors routinely search Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok accounts for evidence they can use to strengthen their case against a potential defendant. The following are some of the common things the police looks for on social media.
Investigators use social media to look for what you have searched in the past. Reviewing your search history and looking at what subjects are coming up on your feed can help prove you planned the crime in advance, which typically leads to more serious charges and subsequent penalties.
Incredibly, even perpetrators will do anything to be seen on social media. That includes posting pictures or videos of themselves committing a crime. It is never a good idea to post any photo or video evidence of you doing anything unlawful on social media - even a minor act of wrongdoing.
Law enforcement will do anything to get a confession. And that includes reviewing all of your social media posts to look for even the tiniest admission of guilt. If you make any statement on social media that connects you to the alleged crime, the police officers can and will use it against you.
Suspects try to use alibis to shift the focus of law enforcement off of them and onto someone else. Social media has given officers a great way to prove and disprove an alibi. They can look at your social media to show you weren’t where you say you were. They can also view the social media accounts of the person you claimed to be with at the time of the alleged crime to either confirm or disprove your alibi.
Social media can prove very useful when officers are attempting to show a link between two individuals they believe to have worked together to commit a crime. If you and another suspect claim you do not know each other yet investigators find you were following or communicating with that individual on social media, it can really hurt your case.
If you are under investigation for a crime, it is best to stay off of social media as much as possible. Don’t give law enforcement the fuel they need to pursue charges. Don’t make any statements that can be viewed as an admission of guilt and never post any photos or video that can be used against you as evidence. Also make sure you don’t give any details of the alleged crime to anyone. Only talk about the incident in question with your attorney.
Are you being investigated for a crime? Have you already been charged with a criminal offense? If so, it is critical to stay off of social media and keep any information about your case between you and your attorney.
If you are in hot water with the police and need skilled legal advice, contact the Houston criminal defense lawyers at Maverick Ray & Associates. Not only do we know what investigators and prosecutors look for when attempting to charge and convict someone of a crime, we know what to do to protect you against their efforts. If you need a strong legal advocate - one who will be in your corner throughout the entire legal process, give us a call. Contact us online or call (281) 672-8029 to arrange a FREE case review with a criminal defense lawyer in Houston, TX.
