St. Louis child pornography lawyer

Child sexual abuse and exploitation is one of the most severe criminal charges you can face. Being accused of this type of abuse can change your life and leave you facing not just criminal charges but a lifetime of registration as a sex offender.

If you are facing child pornography charges, you may need to contact a St. Louis sex crime attorney as soon as possible to mitigate the damage done by these charges. At JCS Law, we understand how difficult it can be to face these charges alone. When you are ready to speak with a St. Louis child pornography lawyer, reach out for the help you need to regain your life after a devastating criminal accusation.

The severity of your charge depends on your role in the crime

When you face child pornography charges, you need to understand precisely where these charges are coming from and what types of crimes you are charged with. In some cases, specific criminal activity can worsen the severity of your charges and lead to a more difficult trial.

For example, some of the most common child pornography charges involve possessing these images. If you were charged with downloading and having these materials in your possession, you may face a serious charge. Still, the penalties will be far more significant if you are accused of uploading these images or producing them yourself. Without a child pornography lawyer, these charges may come with further accusations, leading to longer sentences and more severe penalties.

What are the child pornography laws?

When you are charged with child pornography offenses, you may face severe penalties. In many cases, these penalties can haunt you for a lifetime.

For example, in Missouri, most charges related to child pornography come with a felony charge. That means you may face at least one year in prison, and at maximum, you could face life in prison.

However, these depend on the specific charges that you are facing. For example, the sexual exploitation of a minor comes with much heavier charges. However, you may face a lighter sentence if you are charged with possessing the materials.

Regardless of your charges, your child pornography lawyer in St. Louis can help you defend your case. We understand the laws impacting your case and are prepared to fight for your future in the courtroom.

What are child pornography charges?

Child porn charges are a serious crime and can come with harsh penalties. These penalties include fines, prison time, and future registration as a sex offender for a lifetime.

The charges you are facing may be under state law, but in cases where the crimes involve multiple states or minors in other states, you may even be facing federal charges. That can lead to more severe penalties and a more high-profile trial that can impact your future.

If you are facing these charges, do not face them alone. You may be able to fight back against these charges, avoid jail time, and reduce or dismiss the criminal offenses you are being accused of with help from an experienced St. Louis child pornography attorney.

What are the consequences and penalties for child pornography?

If you are accused of possessing or creating child pornography, you may face more than criminal charges. You may complete all the penalties you meet with a conviction, such as fines, jail time, and other specific penalties. But the penalties may not end there.

The social consequences of being accused or convicted of child pornography charges can be immense. First, you may be on a sex offender registry for the rest of your life. This means you may be unable to live in certain areas or within a certain distance from schools and other public buildings.

There are also many other collateral consequences of a criminal charge. For example, these charges will come up on background checks. That can have a massive impact on the jobs you were accepted for, loans you seek out, or housing you’re applying for. When you have these charges on your record, which appear during background checks, it can significantly impact your quality of life.

Registering as a sex offender

If you’re convicted of child pornography charges, you may be registered as a sex offender. This registry can impact your quality of life and limit where you are allowed to live.

If you were registered as a sex offender, you may first find that you cannot live in certain areas. For example, you may have distance regulations that say you cannot live within a certain distance from a school. You may also have to introduce yourself as such to neighbors, and materials explaining who you are and what criminal offenses you have been convicted of may be given to those in your area.

This can impact you socially, as many people may avoid you or even take issue with you moving into the neighborhood, and it can affect your ability to find housing or a job. Because of this, it is best to dispute the charges and defend your case rather than accept the penalties even if you are sure you will not win your case. Your child pornography lawyer in St. Louis can give you a better chance of reducing or dismissing these charges.

What are possible defenses to a child pornography charge?

If you’re facing child pornography charges in St Louis, you have options for possible defenses. However, certain defenses may not help and may hurt your case.

Because of this, you may need an attorney to help you overcome the charges you are facing and get your future back. Rather than facing the charges and accepting a conviction, reach out to a St. Louis child pornography lawyer who can help you using one of the following defenses or other defenses.

Entrapment

In some cases, you would have never downloaded the materials you are being charged for without being put in a position by the police. Sometimes, the police use unfair tactics to force people to commit a crime they would not have achieved otherwise. If you believe the police pressed you into committing a crime, speak with your attorney about your potential defense.

Unknowing possession

Computer networks are complicated, and sometimes, the materials downloaded by another person on your network can lead to problems for you, even if you are unaware of the materials being downloaded. Talk to your child pornography attorney if you believe someone on your network or a shared computer downloaded the materials and may be placing the blame on you.

Age of the person depicted

You may know the person’s age in the materials you are being charged for. Sometimes, the person may be over 18, and the materials have been misclassified. Talk to your lawyer about gathering proof of age to avoid severe consequences.

Illegal search and seizure

The police may have violated your rights during the search, seizure, and arrest. When this happens, you may need to speak with your attorney about your Fourth Amendment rights and potentially get your charges reduced or dropped for this violation.

Accidental possession

Viruses and malware can contain materials that may include images of minors and sexual situations. In these cases, you may not have willingly or intentionally downloaded the material, and your lawyer may use this defense to show that you would not have downloaded this material if it had not been part of a malware scheme.

Why you can trust JCS Law to fight your child pornography charge

When you are facing severe criminal charges, including child pornography charges, you may have a difficult time overcoming these charges, clearing your name, and getting your life back on track. Child exploitation is a serious crime, and many people will take it incredibly seriously. Because of this, you may need to seek a child pornography lawyer as soon as possible to protect your future.

At JCS Law, a St. Louis sex crime attorney works hard to defend the rights of all people accused of criminal activity. If you have been charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, you may need help overcoming these charges because they are so severe.

When you need a St Louis child pornography lawyer, contact our team for help. To learn more about our services and how we can defend your case, reach out for a free consultation by calling (314) 561-9690 or completing our online contact form.