State Charges for Child Pornography Defense Attorneys in Glen Burnie, MD Fight for Clients’ Rights in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Montgomery County, and Throughout Maryland
Any offense involving child pornography is a serious issue under Maryland state law. To fight these charges, you need experienced legal representation. The Maryland child pornography state charge lawyers at Maronick Law LLC defend clients against charges of all types of serious sex crimes.
We develop personalized defense strategies to secure the most advantageous outcome possible for our clients. Contact us today for a confidential free consultation.
Child Pornography Charges in the State of Maryland
The Maryland Criminal Law Article recognizes a variety of violations that pertain to child porn. Whether you have been charged with possessing, distributing, or producing these illicit images or soliciting a minor, you can count on our state charges for child pornography defense attorneys in Glen Burnie, MD, to rally around you and begin building a robust defense.
Child Porn Possession Charges in MD
Section 11-208 of Maryland’s Criminal Law Article makes it a crime to knowingly and intentionally possess, access, view, or retain child pornography. Any violation of this law constitutes a misdemeanor as a first offense or, as a subsequent offense, a felony crime.
Just possessing pornographic material that depicts a child could lead to up to five years of incarceration for a first offense, along with a fine of up to $2,500. If you already have a prior child porn conviction, a new accusation could leave you facing up to 10 years of jail time and up to $10,000 in fines under state law.
Distribution of Child Pornography Charges in Maryland
The legal implications of distributing child porn are even more severe than those you could face for simply possessing it. Any form of distributing child pornography in Maryland is a felony offense, even if you have no prior criminal record, under Section 11-207 of the state’s Criminal Law Article. This statute covers violations involved in promoting or advertising child porn as well as distributing child porn through the following means:
- Selling the sexually explicit materials
- Exchanging the obscene images
- Trading the illicit depictions
- Sharing or transmitting the unlawful materials free of charge
Even possession of child porn with the intent to distribute can be charged as a crime of distribution rather than mere possession, causing you to face harsher penalties due to the prosecution’s claims regarding your intent.
A first offense of distributing child porn in Maryland can lead to a sentence of up to 10 years of incarceration plus a fine of up to $25,000. For a subsequent violation, you could be sentenced to up to 20 years in jail and up to $50,000 in fines if convicted of the crime.
Notably, the maximum incarceration and financial penalties for distributing child porn are as severe as those for producing obscene material, even if you were not at all involved in the actual exploitation of the child and production of the image or video that depicts them. This reality demonstrates just how seriously the state of Maryland takes the crime of distributing child pornography.
Charges for Producing Child Porn Under State Law
The same statute of state law (Section 11-208) that criminalizes distribution of child porn also establishes the crime of producing such depictions. Under this law, it’s illegal in Maryland to:
- Photograph a minor engaging in sexual conduct or being the subject of sadomasochistic abuse
- Videotape a minor engaging in sexual conduct or being the subject of sadomasochistic abuse
- Knowingly allow a minor to take part in the production of child porn
- Solicit, cause, or induce a minor to take part in the production of child pornography
The maximum penalties for charges of filming, photographing, allowing, or inducing a minor to be the subject of the production of child porn include up to a prison sentence of up to 10 years for first offenders or up to 20 years for repeat offenders and a fine of up to $25,000 for first offenders or up to $50,000 for repeat offenders. However, the more direct exploitation involved in the production of child porn means that these offenses may be taken more seriously and punished more sternly than charges arising purely out of the distribution of illicit content.
The especially high stakes you’re facing when accused of producing obscene content featuring minors amplify the importance of having skilled Maryland child pornography state charge lawyers on your side.
Maryland Laws Against the Solicitation of a Minor
Another offense that is sometimes but not always related to child porn is soliciting a minor. Whether the allegations against you involve soliciting the minor to be depicted in pornography or for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with them, these accusations are serious. You need professional legal guidance from skilled state charges for child pornography defense attorneys in Glen Burnie, MD.
Section 11-207 of the Maryland Criminal Law Article addresses soliciting or causing a minor to be the subject of child pornography images or performances, as well as using a computer to disseminate a minor’s information for the purpose of soliciting or facilitating solicitation of a minor. Additionally, Section 3-324 of the Maryland Criminal Law Article establishes as a crime the solicitation of a minor to engage in activities that are unlawful for minors.
Child Porn Charges and Sex Offender Registration Requirements in Maryland
In addition to penalties like imprisonment and fines, those convicted of child porn crimes in Maryland may be required to register as a sex offender. Section 11-701 of the Maryland Criminal Procedure Article establishes the following:
- Perpetrators convicted of child porn possession constitute Tier I sex offenders.
- Perpetrators convicted of producing or distributing child pornography constitute Tier II sex offenders.
The tier to which you’re assigned based on your offense determines how long you must remain on the sex offender registry. Generally, a Tier I offender must register as a sex offender for at least 15 years, while a Tier II offender must remain on the registry for at least 25 years. Multiple convictions could lead to lengthier sex offender registration requirements, including potentially a lifetime registration.
The Potential for Federal Charges
It’s possible to face federal charges as well as state charges for child porn offenses. Federal charges are particularly common when the offense involves child porn crimes conducted using the internet, including:
- Accessing, viewing, downloading, or storing child pornography online
- Distributing child porn materials through email, social media channels, or internet-enabled smartphone apps
- The use of file-sharing websites
Any alleged transportation or transmission of child pornography across state lines, including printed materials sent in the mail, may also put you at risk of facing federal charges.
Federal charges are particularly serious, often carrying heavier penalties than charges filed for the same offense at the state level. Having knowledgeable Maryland child pornography state charge lawyers who are equipped to assist you with your state-level legal issues as well as any federal charges filed against you can provide some peace of mind during this stressful situation.
How Maronick Law LLC Can Help
The guidance and advocacy offered by experienced Maryland child pornography state charge lawyers like Maronick Law LLC can mean the difference between facing the maximum penalties and securing a more favorable outcome. Our attorneys take proactive steps to defend our clients effectively, including:
- Conducting a detailed analysis of the facts and the case against you
- Investigating to uncover all evidence that could support your defense strategy
- Advising and representing you in all proceedings from the time you hire our attorneys to the conclusion of your case
- Inspecting your case from all possible angles to identify potential strategies for defending you
- Building the strongest possible defense for your individual circumstances
We aim to minimize the impact of these criminal charges on your life in all possible ways. Depending on your circumstances, those ways could include seeking to get the charges dropped or reduced, negotiating a plea bargain that works in your favor, presenting convincing arguments in your defense at a trial, and introducing mitigating factors to push for lighter sentences if you are convicted.
Why Choose Maronick Law LLC?
As you’re weighing your options for legal defense counsel, consider why those accused of sex crimes throughout Maryland turn to Maronick Law LLC for assistance.
An Emphasis on Client Service
Our commitment is always to our clients’ best interests. At Maronick Law LLC, we consider every client we represent to be our most important client. When you choose us as your state charges for child pornography defense attorneys in Glen Burnie, MD, you can count on us to fight tirelessly for you.
Comprehensive Legal Representation for Child Porn Charges
You may be facing some combination of charges for possessing, distributing, and manufacturing child pornography, as well as charges related to solicitation of a minor or other sex crimes. In addition to charges filed against you at the state level, you could be charged with a federal crime, as well. Choosing Maronick Law LLC means you have someone on your side who is equipped to defend you against the full range of criminal charges against you.
Decades of Experience and Proven Results
Experience and results are among the most important factors to consider when choosing an attorney. At Maronick Law LLC, our team has more than 80 years of combined experience in legal practice and a strong track record of successfully securing clients a more favorable outcome.
Contact the Maryland Child Pornography State Charge Lawyers at Maronick Law LLC Today for a Free Consultation
Don’t wait another minute to bring on the professional guidance and skilled advocacy you need to minimize the impact of child porn charges on your life. Make hiring quality legal counsel your top priority so you won’t have to face criminal law proceedings alone.
For help from skilled state charges for child pornography defense attorneys in Glen Burnie, MD, contact Maronick Law LLC online or call us today.