What You Post on Facebook May Lead to Criminal Prosecution

For those of us who have a Facebook profile, it is best not to assume that whatever messages or pictures we post on the site are harmless entries with no real repercussions. The fact is, whatever we post on Facebook is easily accessible and can lead to legal consequences – especially if the posts are incriminating.

According to Facebook’s privacy policy, they may disclose information on personal profiles and user activities pursuant to subpoenas, court orders, or requests from law enforcement agencies if they feel that doing so is required by law. It is also possible for your information to be readily available to anyone who has access to Facebook depending on how you set up your own privacy settings. The lesson to take away from this is simple: Be very discreet about what you post on Facebook; you can be held accountable for your posts.

A North Carolina man was charged last month with crimes in connection with a bomb plot at an abortion clinic because of his Facebook posts. The FBI began investigating the man when they received a tip from Planned Parenthood that he was promoting violence towards abortion clinics on Facebook by posting on his personal page slogans like: "Save a life, Shoot an abortionist." The FBI used a confidential informant to record conversations with the suspect in which he expressed a desire to destroy an abortion clinic and gave detailed explanations on how to make the necessary explosive devices.

A Florida woman was arrested and charged with illegally killing and removing a white-tailed deer from protected lands. The 28-year-old was arrested by wildlife officials when a picture of her skinning the deer appeared on her Facebook profile. She said the deer was killed in May, which was out of season, and admitted to skinning the animal and putting the meat in a freezer.

A West Virginia man faces felony charges for allegedly using Facebook to solicit a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl. Identifying himself as Ethan Tyler Stone, the 33-year-old began a relationship on Facebook with the girl, which led to the two meeting at an undisclosed location to have sex. He now faces charges including three counts of sexual abuse in the third-degree, solicitation of a minor via computer, and enticement.

Even if you delete a message post or picture, anything you say or do on the internet has a way of resurfacing and coming back to haunt you. Therefore, it is very important that you seek the legal advice and expertise of an experienced criminal defense attorney if you face criminal accusations stemming from what you posted online. At Wallin & Klarich, our attorneys have been providing clients with top-notch legal services for over 40 years. We will work diligently to suppress evidence against you and help you raise the best possible defense in your case. Call us today at 888-280-6839. We will be there for you when you call.