Federal Charges for Child Pornography Defense Attorneys in Glen Burnie, MD Offer Skilled Legal Defense to Combat Serious Charges for Clients in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Montgomery County, and Throughout Maryland
When federal law enforcement agencies and federal prosecutors get involved, you know the child pornography charges against you are especially serious. Your future depends on attaining the most favorable resolution possible, given the circumstances. To do that, you need experienced Maryland child pornography federal charge lawyers fighting for you.
At Maronick Law LLC, we defend clients against both state and federal charges involving child porn offenses. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation with a knowledgeable, compassionate attorney.
Federal Charges for Child Pornography in Maryland
Title 18 of the United States Code establishes the different violations of federal law under which you could be charged with child porn crimes. These include possessing, distributing, and producing any kind of sexually explicit depictions of a minor.
Facing Federal Child Porn Possession Charges
The possession of child pornography is criminalized at the federal level under Section 2252 of the United States Code. Knowingly possessing or accessing with the intent to view any form of child porn transported through any means of interstate or foreign commerce, including computers and other devices, is a federal crime.
Federal Charges for Distributing or Transporting Child Pornography
Section 2252 also establishes the crime of distributing pornographic materials depicting minors. Under this federal law, it’s illegal to knowingly transport or distribute such materials through any means of interstate commerce or foreign commerce. While this law applies to the shipping or mailing of printed materials, it also applies to electronic materials that are transmitted across state lines through the use of computers. Distributing includes but is not limited to selling child pornography for payment.
Charges in Federal Court for Producing Child Porn
The production of child pornography constitutes sexual exploitation of children under Section 2251 of the United States Code, Title 18. Producing child porn is the most severely punished federal crime that pertains directly to child pornography due to the direct harm sexual exploitation does to the children depicted in illicit materials.
This statute establishes as a crime any form of persuading, enticing, coercing, employing, inducing, or otherwise using a minor to produce pornographic images that constitute sexually explicit conduct. It’s also illegal for parents of a minor to knowingly permit the child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child porn of any kind.
The Consequences of a Federal Child Pornography Conviction
Factors like higher grades of charges, lengthier maximum sentences, and mandatory minimum penalties raise the stakes involved in federal cases. A conviction could mean facing decades of incarceration and fines that leave you facing serious financial hardship. You could suffer long-term consequences such as being required to register as a sex offender and being subjected to supervision upon your release from prison, potentially for the rest of your life.
A strong legal strategy developed by skilled federal charges for child pornography defense attorneys in Glen Burnie, MD, can help you minimize the impact these charges can have on your life by achieving a more advantageous resolution to the case against you.
Sentences for Federal Possession of Child Porn
Under Section 2252 of the United States Code, simple possession of child porn is punishable by up to 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000. If the images depicted a child under 12 years of age, you could face up to 20 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.
With a prior conviction of a crime of sexual abuse at the state or federal level, you could be sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison.
Federal Penalties for a Conviction of Child Pornography Distribution
A conviction for distributing child porn could result in a prison term of five to 20 years as a first offense. For any subsequent offense, you could spend 15 to 40 years in prison for transporting, selling, or otherwise distributing child pornography.
Consequences of a Federal Conviction for Child Sexual Exploitation
Being convicted on a federal charge of child sexual exploitation in the form of producing child porn can result in a prison sentence of 15 to 30 years, even for a first offense. As a second offense, this violation carries penalties as high as 25 to 50 years, while a third or subsequent offense can impose a prison term of 35 years to life. If this sexual conduct involving a minor caused the death of a person, the penalty could amount to a term of incarceration of 30 years to life.
How Maronick Law LLC Can Help
When you’re up against serious sex crime charges with penalties that could send you to prison for a decade or longer, you need skillful legal representation. Maronick Law LLC’s team of Maryland child pornography federal charge lawyers has a long history of defending clients in federal court and achieving the most favorable outcomes possible.
Defenses Against Federal Charges of Child Pornography Crimes
Child porn charges, particularly at the federal level, are serious matters. However, a charge does not automatically mean a conviction. The prosecutor must prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in federal court, and you’re entitled to professional legal counsel to advise and advocate for you and represent you in criminal proceedings. Among the potential legal strategies our federal charges for child pornography defense attorneys in Glen Burnie, MD, may explore in your case include the following.
Mistaken Identity
A defense strategy based on mistaken identity argues that you were not the one who actually possessed, received, accessed, distributed, or produced the illicit child porn materials. This defense may be relevant if someone else had access to the computer or device used in the crime with which you have been charged.
Lack of Intent
A defense based on lack of intent asserts that your possession, receipt, access, or distribution of child porn was unintentional. Your attorneys might pursue this defense argument if, for example, you accidentally downloaded the illicit materials by opening a file you received from an unknown sender or you stumbled upon child porn while legally viewing explicit material that was supposed to depict only adult subjects.
Affirmative Defense
You can assert the affirmative defense that you reported accidental possession of child porn to law enforcement and made reasonable attempts to destroy the materials in accordance with the law. This defense may require you to present evidence proving your account of the situation. You should have an experienced attorney assist you in asserting this affirmative defense, particularly as deleting files could be mistaken as tampering with evidence if you do not go about the task correctly.
Unlawfully Obtained Evidence
A close examination of the case against you may reveal deviations from proper investigation procedures on the part of law enforcement. If any of the evidence in the case against you was obtained in violation of proper procedures or your constitutional rights, our Maryland child pornography federal charge lawyers may be able to get any unlawfully obtained evidence suppressed. In some cases, the suppression of some or all of the evidence against you may result in getting your charges dismissed or reduced.
Insufficient Evidence Against You
In some cases, the evidence the prosecution has against you is insufficient to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, as is required to secure a criminal conviction in federal court. This strategy involves highlighting weaknesses and discrepancies in the prosecution’s case against you.
The strategies and arguments that make up the most effective possible defense depend on the unique facts of your situation. That’s why Maronick Law LLC’s federal charges for child pornography defense attorneys in Glen Burnie, MD, are committed to developing personalized defenses for every client we represent.
Our Approach to Defending Against Federal Child Porn Charges
As experienced Maryland child pornography federal charge lawyers, we approach every client’s case with a commitment to obtaining the most beneficial resolution. Our process includes:
- A detailed evaluation of the specific facts of your case
- An investigation focused on finding all evidence that supports your defense
- Consistent advocacy and legal representation throughout all proceedings
- Consideration of your case from all angles to identify the most effective defense strategy possible
The type of favorable outcome you can realistically expect when charged with a federal child pornography crime depends on the unique facts of your situation. Whether our goal in your individual circumstances is to get charges dropped, evidence suppressed, not-guilty trial verdicts awarded, or lesser sentences imposed, we’re committed to advocating tirelessly for you.
Why Choose Maronick Law LLC?
To defend you against federal child pornography charges, you need a law firm known for experience, individualized defense, and a commitment to protecting your future.
Extensive Legal Experience
The federal child porn charge attorneys at Maronick Law LLC have a combined 80 years of experience. With our background defending clients against all types of child pornography charges at both the state and federal levels, we’re prepared for all of the challenges that could possibly arise in your case.
Defense Strategies Personalized to You
The facts of your case are unique, and your defense strategy should be, too. Our federal charges for child pornography defense attorneys in Glen Burnie, MD, are devoted to thoroughly investigating every case and developing effective legal defenses custom-tailored to each individual client.
A Focus on Your Future
When it feels like the whole world is judging you for the crimes you’re accused of, the team at Maronick Law LLC is here to provide compassionate legal assistance. We understand the stress you’re going through when charged with federal crimes. Our role is to make the legal process easier and more bearable for you and to fight for a more favorable resolution.
Contact the Maryland Child Pornography Federal Charge Lawyers at Maronick Law LLC Today for a Free Case Review
Having skilled legal representation can make the difference between facing the fullest consequences for a child porn conviction allowed under federal law and achieving an outcome that minimizes the effects of these charges on your future.
For help from dedicated federal charges for child pornography defense attorneys in Glen Burnie, MD, contact Maronick Law LLC online or call us today.