Authorities Use Maryland Man’s DNA to Link Him to Rape of Young Girl
Felony convictions have serious consequences in Maryland that may follow you. A 48 year-old East Baltimore man, Alvin Ray Wright, found out the hard way. Because of a DNA sample, Wright will have to work hard to defend himself against a string of serious charges, including kidnapping of a child under the age of 16, sexual solicitation of a minor, rape, assault and false imprisonment.
Wright was recently arrested for raping a 13 year-old girl in a vacant home near Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. During the attack, the girl lost her glasses, preventing her from seeing well enough to identify her attacker.
If police had rounded up their usual suspects, they wouldn’t have found the man, because he had no prior history of sexual assault. According to authorities, the man was arrested after DNA collected from the victim was connected to the suspect.
Authorities had Wright’s DNA on file because of a 2009 drug charge conviction. In Maryland, all individuals convicted of felonies are required to provide a DNA sample, which is put into a database. The DNA samples are available, if needed, to link the convicted individuals to future cases.
Law enforcement is increasingly relying on DNA evidence to connect people to crimes. State officials told the Baltimore Sun that they have used DNA samples to arrest over 360 people since 2007.
Sexual Solicitation of a Minor in Maryland
One of Wright’s most serious charges is sexual solicitation of a minor. This crime is a felony with a penalty of up to ten years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $25,000.
According to state statute, the offense encompasses knowingly soliciting a minor with the intent to commit rape, sexual offense, receive earnings of prostitution, abducting a child under 16 for prostitution or sexual crimes or engaging in, operating or allowing a structure under the persons control to be used for prostitution.
Soliciting includes commanding, urging, requesting, advising, authorizing or enticing a minor by any means, including:
- In person
- Over the phone
- Through the Internet, computer or any other electronic means
- By mail
- In print
- Through an agent
A person may be charged with this offense in Maryland regardless of whether the crime was initiated in this state but executed in another state or if it began in another state but was completed in Maryland.
Penalties for Conviction
The repercussions for a sex offense conviction reach beyond initial conviction penalties. A convicted individual may be forced to register as a sex offender according to the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. For a solicitation crime, registration is required as a second tier sex offender for 25 years.
This also includes a public registry website providing a wide range of information about the offender including name, employer address, resident address and photo. If an offender does not register or absconds, a warrant for arrest can be issued.
A record of similar convictions can extend to difficulties getting a job, finding a place to live and social stigma. For individuals charged with sex crimes, it is important to prepare an aggressive defense from the start. Experience matters. If you have been charged, you should hire a Baltimore sex crimes defense attorney with a strong record of advocating for clients rights.
