Having your name associated with child pornography can have a life-altering impact. Not only could you face years of incarceration and large fines, but the effect on your reputation once you are labeled a sex offender is ruinous. The life you worked so hard to build could come crashing down around you once you face criminal charges of possessing, selling or trading child pornography. If you reside in the Bay Area and have been accused of a crime related to child pornography, contact a child pornography defense attorney at Okabe and Haushalter.
Section 311 of the California Penal Code outlines the definition of child pornography and the punishments for those convicted of this crime. Child pornography is defined as sexually explicit imagery such as photographs or videos of a person under the age of majority. This means that photos or videos of anyone under the age of 18 engaged in a sex act could be construed as child pornography by California state law. Owning such material is a crime under this law, but distributing it for the purposes of financial gain is considered an even more serious offense.
California Penal Code Section 290 dictates that anyone convicted of owning or disseminating child pornography must register as a sex offender. This means entering their personally identifying information (name, date of birth, physical description, address, and photograph) into a database that is accessible to the general public under Megan’s Law. It could also entail having to personally inform your neighbors of your inclusion on this list—something that can lead to ostracism or worse. Options for housing and employment may be severely limited after registering as a sex offender. For example, you may no longer be able to work at or live within a certain distance of a school after a registry.
Sex offender registration is just one penalty that people convicted of child pornography-related charges face. Other possible penalties for possessing these materials include incarceration in a county jail or state prison and thousands of dollars in fines. People who are convicted of selling child pornography may have to pay up to 100,000 dollars in fines as well as facing prison time. Repeat offenders face steeper penalties, as well.
Facing a child pornography charge is serious and can have disastrous consequences if you don’t take the right steps to secure a solid defense in the court of law. If you live in the East Bay and have been accused of possessing or distributing child pornography, contact the best child pornography defense attorney in Brentwood at Okabe and Haushalter. The criminal law experts at Okabe and Haushalter can defend your case in criminal court, helping you to plead down the charges against you and reduce penalties if convicted. Call now for a free consultation and make the first move toward getting your life back on track.
