Top Wynnewood, PA Child Pornography Lawyers Near You
Facing Criminal Charges? Build a rock solid defense with the McGarrigle Law Firm
Free Consultation
Virtual Appointments
Defending Your Rights, Fighting for Justice: Your Trusted Criminal Law Advocate
Se Habla Español
Free Consultation
Virtual Appointments
Your Criminal Defense needs are important. Click here or call today for help.
Free Consultation
Virtual Appointments
NAMED TOP 100 PHILADELPHIA ATTORNEYS! One of the most skilled and tenacious criminal defense lawyers!
Free Consultation
Do Not Plead Guilty. Our Top Rated Law Firm Has 50+ Years Experience
Se Habla Español
For Experienced Legal Help Call Me Today!
600 W Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
Other Nearby Offices
Ciccarelli Law Offices has experience helping clients with their Child Pornography needs in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.
Se Habla Español
Free Consultation
Virtual Appointments
328 West Broad Street, Old Borough Hall, 2nd Floor, Quakertown, PA 18951
Other Nearby Offices
Applebaum & Associates has experience helping clients with their Child Pornography needs in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.
Se Habla Español
Free Consultation
934 E. High Street, Suite 2, Pottstown, PA 19464
Other Nearby Offices
Bellwoar Kelly, LLP has experience helping clients with their Child Pornography needs in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.
Se Habla Español
Free Consultation
1219 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Get assistance for your Child Pornography issue in the Wynnewood, Pennsylvania area. van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim can help.
Se Habla Español
Free Consultation
Virtual Appointments
1600 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Clients needing legal solutions for Child Pornography can connect with Brennan Law Offices, a local Pennsylvania practice.
Free Consultation
215 North Olive Street, Suite 201, Media, PA 19063
Get assistance for your Child Pornography issue in the Wynnewood, Pennsylvania area. Nistico & Roberts can help.
3245 Ridge Pike, Norristown, PA 19403
Conway Schadler, LLC, a reputable Child Pornography firm representing clients in the Wynnewood, Pennsylvania area.
Free Consultation
1500 JFK Blvd., 2 Penn Center Suite 1240, Philadelphia, PA 19102
1700 Market Street, Suite 1418, Philadelphia, PA 19103-3907
One Logan Square, Suite 2000, Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996
100 South Broad Street, Suite 1910, Philadelphia, PA 19110
600 West Germantown Pike, Suite 400, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
1515 Market Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA 19102
230 S. Broad Street, Suite 900, Philadelphia, PA 19102
737 Second Street Pike, Southampton, PA 18966
1500 Walnut St, Suite 1510, Philadelphia, PA 19102
1650 Market Street, Suite 3669, Philadelphia, PA 19103
25 S. Church Street, West Chester, PA 19382
516 DeKalb Street, Norristown, PA 19401
100 S Broad St, Suite 1910, Philadelphia, PA 19110
Two Commerce Square, 2001 Market Street, Suite 3100, Philadelphia, PA 19103
1901 Callowhill St, Philadelphia, PA 19130
334 W Front St, Media, PA 19063
112 W. Front Street, Media, PA 19063
1315 Walnut Street, 12th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Wynnewood Child Pornography Information
Lead Counsel independently verifies Child Pornography attorneys in Wynnewood and checks their standing with Pennsylvania bar associations.
Our Verification Process and Criteria
Ample Experience
Attorneys must meet stringent qualifications and prove they practice in the area of law they’re verified in.Good Standing
Be in good standing with their bar associations and maintain a clean disciplinary record.Annual Review
Submit to an annual review to retain their Lead Counsel Verified status.Client Commitment
Pledge to follow the highest quality client service and ethical standards.
What Is Considered Child Pornography?
Under federal law, child pornography is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor (someone under the age of 18). Sexually explicit conduct means actual or simulated:
- Sexual intercourse
- Bestiality
- Masturbation
- Sadistic or masochistic abuse
- Lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area
Child pornography may also include images or videos of child sexual abuse. In the past, pornography generally involved videos or photos. However, visual depictions of sexual activity may take many other forms, including any undeveloped film, data stored on a computer disk, data capable of conversion into visual imagery, peer-to-peer file sharing, or computer-generated child porn images.
Laws against child pornography make it a crime to be involved in the material in any way, including:
- Possession
- Receiving
- Trading and distribution
- Reproduction
- Production
- Solicitation
What Are the Elements of Child Pornography Charges?
When someone is accused of possession of child pornography, the prosecutor has the burden of proof to prove every element of the criminal charges beyond a reasonable doubt. The elements vary by jurisdiction but generally include the prosecutor proving the defendant knowingly possessed or controlled material containing a visual depiction of a minor involved in sexually explicit conduct.
What Are the Penalties for Child Pornography in Pennsylvania?
Child pornography is a form of child exploitation. The courts take sexual exploitation of a child charges very seriously. There are harsh penalties for possession, distribution, or receipt of child porn material, even if the individual was not involved in direct abuse. In general, any child pornography charge is a felony. Penalties depend on a number of factors, including the amount of material involved, age of the victim, participation in abuse, and prior child pornography convictions.
For example, under federal child pornography laws, a first-time offender convicted of production of child pornography can face a minimum of 15-year prison sentence. A second offense is punishable by imprisonment from 25 years to 50 years. A third conviction includes a maximum of life in federal prison.
When a judge uses sentencing guidelines, they may take into account a number of factors. Aggravating factors can involve harsher penalties, up to the maximum sentence. Aggravating factors in child pornography cases may include:
- Explicit depictions of a minor under the age of 12
- Distribution of material to a minor
- Sadistic, masochistic, or violent depictions
- Number of images of child pornography
Will I Have to Register as a Sex Offender in Pennsylvania?
After release from imprisonment or serving out probation, someone convicted of possession or distribution of child pornography may have to register as a sex offender. Mandatory sex offender registration is a continuing obligation to notify and update law enforcement agencies annually and whenever the offender moves. Depending on the child pornography offense and the state, registration may be a lifetime duty. Failure to register or moving without notifying law enforcement may result in criminal charges.
Sex offender registration is generally publicly available. Most states have a searchable website where individuals can search for a registered sex offender by name or location. The online sex offender registry generally includes the offender’s:
- Name
- Photograph
- Age
- Criminal offense
- Identifying information
Do I Need a Lawyer If I Am Facing Charges for Child Pornography?
With such serious criminal penalties involved in sex crimes, you may want to contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer for advice. A child pornography lawyer will be able to explain your legal options, evaluate every viable defense, and can challenge the prosecutor’s evidence. After formal charges are filed, your options are generally to plead guilty or take your case to court. Skilled attorneys can also help you negotiate a plea agreement to reduce the charges, try and get the minimum sentence, or have some charges dismissed. Talk to a defense attorney about your strongest defense options.
Are There Legal Defenses to Child Pornography Charges?
When law enforcement agencies conduct a law enforcement investigation, their evidence may only consist of the evidence of pornographic materials on someone’s computer or an IP address using file-sharing programs to exchange digital images. They may not have direct evidence that the defendant accessed or shared the information. It may be an effective defense to show the computer was shared with a roommate or others. Other common defense strategies may include:
- Wireless router was not secured and accessible to others
- Defendant did not know a shared file contained illegal images
- Images were artistic depictions with serious artistic, political, or scientific value
- Individual portrayed was 18 years old or older at the time
Was the Search of My Computer Legal?
Law enforcement cannot just search anyone’s computer for illegal material. Generally, the police need to have search warrants to conduct a search of computers, homes, vehicles, or other private areas. However, there may be several exceptions where the police do not need a warrant, including when the owner gives consent to search.
If the police conducted an unlawful search, it may be a violation of your constitutional rights against unreasonable search and seizure. Your attorney may be able to file a motion to suppress any unlawfully obtained evidence to keep it out of court. Without evidence of child pornography, the prosecutor may not have a strong enough case to move forward.