CBS 11 News
Nearly 250 million people use social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook. Much of what is posted on those sites is fair game for the legal system.
Raul Cortez was found guilty in one of the four murders in McKinney and MySpace played a role in sending him to death row.
During the trial, a detective testified that Cortez had gang ties after seeing him display gang signs and colors on his MySpace page.
Dallas family attorney Mary Jo McCurley uses social networking websites in divorce cases to prove infidelity. "There it is for the whole world to see," she said.
McCurley says spouses often turn up in compromising photographs on a secret lover's MySpace or Facebook page.
"For a lawyer, it's almost like a 'ha' moment. It's kind of fun when you see something that you can use as evidence to prove the opposing party is having an affair," said McCurley.
Dallas attorney Mark Stradley says the sites are invaluable when proving insurance fraud. His firm often uncovers video or pictures of "so-called" disabled workers on skis rather than in a bed.
"If they say they can't work but you show that they can work, or they say that they can't dance, but you prove that they can; it not only defeats that particular claim but it casts doubt on all the other claims that they're making," he said.
A child's MySpace or Facebook page has been used in custody battles. Attorneys will unveil photos or videos of kids smoking pot, drinking or fighting to show that a parent is unfit.
From drunk driving to sexual harassment to assault, Facebook and MySpace pages are providing a mountain of evidence in court. At this rate these sites may someday make private detectives obsolete.
© MMIX, CBS Stations Group of Texas L.P.
