Michigan GHOST Cases and Entrapment
Our defense attorneys are ready to fight for you
Sex crimes involving children are taken very seriously and offenders face serious consequences. That’s why if you are charged with a sex crime involving children, you need a lawyer with the experience and the resources needed to fight for your rights. You need the criminal defense attorneys at Manley & Manley.
In 2019, the Genesee County Sherriff’s office created a task force called the Genesee Human Oppression Strike Team – or GHOST, for short. The unit has set up several sting operations to catch people attempting to have sexual relations with children and engaging in other crimes, such as human trafficking. These operations have resulted in multiple arrests and charges, such as solicitation of a minor.
The tactics of this unit have been called into question, however. In these undercover sting operations, law enforcement officers pose as 15, 14 and 13-year-olds, and chat online with people, to set up a time and place to meet them for sex. When the adult male arrives for the meeting, they're instead met by law enforcement officers and are placed under arrest.
What is entrapment?
Arrests made during sting operations have raised many questions and concerns about entrapment. Entrapment is when police coerce someone into committing a crime they otherwise would not have committed. In these types of cases, police convince someone to commit a crime using tactics such as threats, harassment, fraud or even flattery.
If you’ve been arrested, it’s important to call an experienced defense attorney. GHOST is aggressive in their tactics. Our lawyers aggressively fight the charges you are facing. We will be your voice and will be relentless in fighting for your rights and minimizing consequences.
Firm founders Michael P. Manley and Frank J. Manley are Flint natives and accomplished lawyers with a reputation for winning big cases. Attorney Michael P. Manley is a board-certified criminal trial expert. Attorney Frank J. Manley has handled more than 30,000 criminal cases in more than 30 years of practice.
Can you go to jail for solicitation of a minor?
Conviction on these types of charges can result in lengthy prison terms – sometimes for decades. There are large fines and court costs and if convicted, you can be required to register as s a sex offender. If you are a teacher, doctor, nurse, lawyer or other licensed professional, your license may be suspended or revoked. Other consequences for a conviction include damaged personal and professional relationships and harm to your career and reputation.
Our legal team researches your case to get the facts. We review evidence and arrest reports. We consult experts to determine if proper procedure was followed in the collection of evidence. Our lawyers examine any communication you had with members of the GHOST team to search for signs of coercion.
How do you prove entrapment?
In these cases, Michigan courts use the objective test. In short, defense attorneys need to prove that it was police conduct that resulted in the charges, rather than the defendant’s predisposition to commit the crime. This can make entrapment hard to prove, as prosecutors will argue that the strike team simply provided the opportunity to commit a crime, which is not entrapment.
Our attorneys know where to look for evidence of police coercion and will forcefully argue your case. There’s a lot on the line and we are aggressive and relentless in our pursuit of justice. We may be able to get your charges reduced or possibly even dismissed.
Don’t take chances with your future. If you were arrested by the GHOST team and charged with a serious crime, it’s important to get legal advice as soon as possible. Contact us today to learn more about how we can fight for your rights.
