Virginia Federal Child Pornography Lawyer
Production, distribution, and receipt or possession of sexually explicit images of minors under the age of 18 is against the law. If you are accused of any of these acts or believe that you may be under investigation, quickly find a Virginia federal child pornography lawyer for legal counsel and defense representation. Call today to schedule a free consultation with a Virginia federal criminal lawyer.
Working with a Virginia Federal Child Pornography Lawyer
When you are accused of a federal offense related to child pornography, you can quickly become overwhelmed and afraid. However, when you have a Virginia federal child pornography attorney on your side, you can rest assured that you have an advocate fighting zealously for you.
There are a number of defenses to federal child pornography charges, and your defense attorney can help determine the best strategy for fighting the charges:
- The images in question do not qualify as child pornography (age of subjects is in question, or the images are not of a lewd or prurient nature)
- The images were inadvertently viewed or downloaded
- The defendant had no way to reasonably know that the subject was a minor, and therefore had no intent to view or possess child pornography
- Evidence—including electronic equipment, computers, cell phones, and storage devices—was seized illegally in violation of the Fourth Amendment
- Lack of intent to distribute images stored online
Federal penalties for child pornography offenses are severe, but with aggressive criminal defense from a Virginia federal child pornography lawyer, you can successfully fight against these serious allegations.
Federal Child Pornography Laws
Internet access, smartphones, and sexting have all led to an increase in state and federal child pornography prosecutions. While child pornography charges are often handled at the state level, the use of interstate commerce –including U.S. mail or interstate transmission of child pornography over the internet—in the distribution, download, or receipt of child pornography is a federal crime.
Federal law defines child pornography as a visual depiction of a minor under the age of 18 involved in sexually explicit conduct. Because the federal child pornography statutes define a minor as someone under the age of 18, a person who may be able to legally consent to sex under state law may not consent to appear in sexually explicit images. This can lead to federal charges as a result of underage “sexting” when images are disseminated across state lines or the internet.
There are several federal laws pertaining to the production, distribution, and possession of child pornography, including 21 U.S. Code 2251 regarding the sexual exploitation of minors.
Under this law, enticing a minor to appear in child pornography, producing child pornography, distributing child pornography, and knowingly receiving child pornography are felony sex crimes. The penalties for violation of 2251 include a sentence range of 15 to 30 years in prison on the first offense. Subsequent or aggravated offenses bring even heavier penalties.
Although the charges and penalties are serious, having legal defense representation can help you successfully resolve your case. An accusation does not have to lead to conviction. Contact a federal child pornography attorney in Virginia to begin building your defense.
Speak with a Virginia Federal Child Pornography Attorney
An accusation of involvement with child pornography does not have to bring your life as you know it to a screeching halt. Call today to speak confidentially with a Virginia federal child pornography lawyer about your case and your options for defense.
