If you or someone you love has been charged with child pornography in Pennsylvania, you may be facing serious criminal punishment. It is important that your legal rights are protected and that you receive fair treatment in your legal case. A Norristown child pornography lawyer can look at your case and help you through your legal proceedings. Speak with a legal representative today at McKenzie Law Firm, P.C. to setup a consultation and discuss your legal options at (610) 991-7219.
Understanding Child Pornography Laws in Pennsylvania
Be mindful that you may be prosecuted by the state of Pennsylvania as well as in federal courts for your arrest of child pornography. This means you may be facing additional fines and punishment. It may also mean that your pornography case will be drawn out for years.
You may have been charged with child pornography with findings that may include:
- Video
- Photos
- Undeveloped photos
- Images or video on your computer
- Images or video on your phone
- Self-made images depicting child pornography
- Undeveloped film
- Electronically stored images or video
You may also be facing charges of child pornography if you are found to be involved with selling, distributing, or manufacturing child pornography. This may include luring children to sell them or manipulating them into performing sexual activity for child pornography purposes.
Additionally, child pornography charges may not be the only thing to worry about. Depending on your case, you may be facing other charges such as rape, child endangerment, sexual abuse, or other criminal offenses. The prosecution may just do this to ensure you receive the full punishment.
Understand that child pornography consists of a person under the age of 18 and the evidence must show sexual activity, sexual intentions, sexual conduct, or the like. Bottom line, it must have a sexual tendency. For example, an innocent nude photo of a child playing in a bathtub may not constitute as child pornography.
However, if you are being prosecuted under Pennsylvania state laws, the prosecuting legal team is not required to show proof that you knew of the child’s age. Sometimes mistakes happen where you engage in activity that constitutes as child pornography when, in fact, you thought the people involved were of age, whether it be videos, photos, or what have you. This argument will not hold up in Pennsylvania courts as stated in 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6312. This is different under federal law though.
Meet with a Norristown child pornography lawyer who can review your case and discuss the legal options you have. Call a legal member today at the McKenzie Law Firm, P.C. to schedule a consultation at (610) 991-7219.
Charges You May Face if Convicted of Child Pornography in Pennsylvania
Child pornography is considered a felony whether you are being prosecuted in the state of Pennsylvania or on a federal level. The most obvious of penalties when you are convicted of a felony is the hefty fines and lengthy prison sentence you may have to surrender to; however, the punishment far exceeds basic sentencing.
Being convicted for a sexual offense involving a child because of your involvement with child pornography comes with a slew of lasting effects. It is something you cannot hide from and will not go away. This type of permanent damage from a child pornography conviction is most notably felt with the requirement of registering as a sex offender once you are released from prison. This may be dependent on the Sexual Offenders Assessment Board, which your lawyer can help guide you through the process.
With this in mind, it can ruin your relationships with current family members and friends, and you may have a hard time creating new friendships with your neighbors, co-workers, the parents of your children’s friends, etc. Additionally, since child pornography is a serious offense and it is a felony that stays on your record, you may have a very hard time finding employment.
How a Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help Defend You in Your Child Pornography Case
When you are the perpetrator, it can be difficult to defend yourself in a case of child pornography. Additionally, it can be intimidating in front of the prosecuting legal team, a judge, and possibly a jury. You can expect the prosecuting team to come down hard on you and maybe even intimidate you on purpose to make you fumble in your case. An attorney can help you through this.
Your criminal defense team can take on all aspects of your child pornography case so that all you have to do is appear. When you speak with your attorney for the first time, be upfront with them. Do not hide anything from your defense attorney as it could cause more damage and prevent the possibility of your attorney lessening your punishments or dismissing your case altogether.
Moreover, your legal defense team can review your case in-depth and in detail and catch things that the average person may not be able to do. For example, the police may have illegally searched you, your home, or your belongings without a probable cause and a warrant in hand. They also may coerce you into talking and saying something that could hurt your case when it comes to trial. If this happens, all the collection of evidence that was possibly uncovered, could be dismissed because it was done so in an unlawful manner that infringed upon your rights.
Contact the Office of a Norristown Child Pornography Attorney for Help Today
You are one phone call away from defending your legal rights in your child pornography case. The sooner you get started, the sooner you can be protected by the law and any external factors that may harm your case or put you in danger. Speak with a legal member now at McKenzie Law Firm, P.C. to schedule an appointment with a criminal defense attorney. A Norristown child pornography lawyer can review the details of your case, discover any unlawful practices or accusations, and determine the legal options available to you. Call now at (610) 991-7219.
