A New Jersey woman is accused of sexually abusing a child that she was babysitting, videotaping the incident and then streaming it on the Internet. She now faces federal charges for the alleged crimes.

Federal officials searched the 32-year-old woman's home in December after videos were found on a Texas man's computer showing the woman allegedly engaging in sexual acts with a child. She has now been charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

The woman has been arrested and remains in custody. She will appear in federal court on Jan. 30.

Accusations of sexual assault can be devastating, but a conviction can be even more detrimental. In addition to time behind bars, a person could be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of their lives. It can be devastating to both your personal and professional life.

Residents in New Jersey who are facing these kinds of serious charges would likely benefit from seeking out the advice and guidance of an experienced criminal defense attorney, and doing so in a timely manner. An attorney can investigate the evidence involved in a case and mount an aggressive defense against the charges. In addition, an attorney will be sure an individual's rights are protected throughout the entire process.

Although accusations of sex crimes against children are very serious, it is important to remember that a person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Everyone is entitled to a strong defense and a fair trial.

Source: The Star-Ledger, "N.J. woman accused of sexually young girl and videotaping alleged attack," Jan. 19, 2012