Possession, Distribution, & Manufacturing of Child Pornography
Possession of child porn images is an extremely serious criminal charge, subject to a five-year sentence in federal prison even for a first-time offender. If that wasn’t bad enough, many people who are charged with possession of child pornography face enhanced charges based on the number of images and what they allegedly did with those images after downloading them.
Federal and state prosecutors will evaluate what is found on your computer after a forensic lab has listed every website that has been downloaded and visited, sometimes for the life of the computer. Even though many people believe that their computer is clean, forensic technology can uncover many images and caches on the hard drive to tell prosecutors:
- The number of images on your machine
- Times visited
- The type of video or images
- Frequency of use
- The nature of any “chat room” conversations with others (including undercover police officers)
For over 30 years, we have defended people in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and DC who have been charged with sex abuse, such as distribution and possession of child pornography. If you have been approached by law enforcement officers or have had your computer seized under a search warrant, we offer a free and confidential consultation to discuss your case.
Attempting to explain how the images came to be in your possession may only give law enforcement officers the evidence they need to charge you with a crime. For this reason, you should talk to an experienced defense lawyer before you talk to police.
What Is Distribution of Child Pornography?
It is against the law to receive, possess, distribute or produce child porn images. Simply clicking on a link and downloading an image to your computer can lead to charges of possession of child pornography, even if you later delete the images. If you forwarded images to another person by e-mail or Internet links, you can be charged with distribution of child porn. Some Internet programs can automatically set you up as a distributor because of “sharing” technology.
Possession and distribution of child porn cases are often prosecuted in federal court, where you can face a sentence of from five to 30 years in federal prison, even for a first offense. All child pornography convictions are subject to lifetime registration as a sex offender.
Many people who do not consider themselves consumers of child porn can get caught up in these charges. Clicking on a link on a website or an e-mail message can result in the downloading of images you never intended to view. A teenager who takes pictures of his girlfriend on a cell phone camera and then distributes those images to his friends on his cell phone can face charges of possessing and distributing child pornography if his girlfriend is under 18.
Contact Us
To protect your future, contact us before you talk to the police or anyone else. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and operate four offices for your convenience. To contact us, call us at (888) JCLaw-10, text us at (443) 829-1446, or email us to get an immediate consultation.
