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We live in an exciting age with what seems like daily technological improvements to make our lives better. Thermostats connected to the internet, television remotes that understand our spoken requests—these devices are making our lives easier. Unfortunately, these devices also collect data about us and the police are beginning to explore ways to use this data to prosecute crimes.

If you have been charged with a crime, you are likely facing accusations from prosecutors who have evidence against you. An experienced Fresno criminal defense attorney can help you evaluate the evidence and build a defense against those accusations. Call attorney Michael McKneely at (559) 443-7442 today to find out how he can help you.

Pacemaker Information Led to Charges

In a recent case involving a house fire, the ABA Journal, television station WLWT, and Journal-News reported that police used information from a Middletown, Ohio man’s artificial heart implant and external cardiac pump to attempt to make a case for arson and insurance fraud against him.

The police interviewed the resident of the burned home. He claimed that while the home was on fire he gathered belongings, broke a window, and threw those items outside. Law enforcement officers claim that information they retrieved from his medical device contradicts his story, leading to the charges. They used a cardiologist to interpret the information from the pacemaker. The expert witness said the man’s medical condition makes it improbable that he was able to do the vigorous activity he said he did after the fire.

Use of Technology in Criminal Cases

Data about our lives, collected secretly by our devices, is the latest battleground in the struggle between law enforcement and civil libertarians. Criminal cases are being made with information about us that most of us don’t even know we are sharing. Many times this information is misunderstood and can even lead to unjust convictions.

It is essential if you are faced with any accusation from the police that you consult first with a skilled and technologically savvy criminal defense attorney. With the early intervention of a trained professional, we may be able to prevent a misunderstanding from escalating to a charge. Even if a case has already been filed against you, you will want a lawyer who knows what they’re doing in the courtroom and how to challenge the “evidence” the government thinks it has.

How a Fresno Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help

Fresno attorney Mike McKneely has extensive experience working with cutting edge technology in criminal cases. He understands that investigators will work to make a case against you in any way possible. When he takes a case, he carefully evaluates every piece of evidence and considers the possibility of inaccurate information from technological devices.

Whether you’re being charged with arson, child pornography, or another crime, you need an attorney who will defend your rights no matter what evidence the prosecution throws your way. Contact Michael McKneely, Criminal Defense Lawyer today at (559) 443-7442 to find out how we can help you.