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RECENT DWI & CRIMINAL DEFENSE RESULTS

STATE v. HENDRICKS — NEW JERSEY MURDER TRIAL — "NOT GUILTY" VERDICT

Mr. Tumelty represented Helena Hendricks, who was charged with first degree murder in Atlantic County Superior Court. The defendant faced a number of additional charges, including armed robbery, conspiracy and possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose. At the conclusion of a jury trial that lasted three weeks, the defendant was found "not guilty" of all charges.

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How Social Media Can Potentially Hurt Your Case

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Social media has brought about a new age in staying connected to loved ones all around the world. However, unless the right privacy settings are in place, a user’s information is all public knowledge and just a few clicks away. Because this information is public, some of the information found on social media could be downright incriminating.

Assuming all the information on a profile is not set to private, the prosecution can have and use public information obtained from social media for their own ends. Photos, status updates, and other activity could all be held scrutinized in court.

Even in the event that the photo turns out to be old or out of context, this kind of evidence can draw out a case and cause parties involved to lose focus. It’s an obstacle that could be avoided altogether.

Here are some quick social media tips that could help in the future:

Check Privacy Settings

There are countless guides and resources that instruct social media users on how to set their profiles as private. It’s not about having something to hide, but about reclaiming privacy. One should take steps to make sure their information is limited to those who really need to see it.

Keep an Eye on GPS

Something as simple as sharing a photo could contain the uploader’s exact location and timestamp. One should take steps to disable tracking from photos if they’re not comfortable with that much information being out there.

Keep Certain Details to Yourself

Social media is a platform built on sharing nearly any thought that crosses a person’s mind. If for some reason one feels the need to post anything, it should not be something that can be used as an admission of guilt.

 

Social media can be great for keeping in contact with friends and loved ones. But for anything else, it could be a wide open door into a person’s life, stripping them of any kind of privacy. If you or someone you know are in need of criminal defense, contact an attorney with years of experience as both a prosecutor and defense attorney. Contact the Law Offices of John W. Tumelty today to schedule your case evaluation.

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