Prosecutors and law enforcement officials take sex crimes against minors very seriously. Any accusation will be thoroughly investigated and the charges that can be levied against a suspect come with serious penalties. We have learned that a Chinese national has been arrested in San Francisco on child pornography charges. Today, we want to discuss that case as the penalties a person can face in these situations.
If you need a child pornography defense attorney in San Francisco, you can count on the knowledgeable and experienced team at Okabe & Haushalter to help you through this.
24-year-old Minghong Xia, a San Francisco resident, was arrested in April of the San Francisco International Airport. Investigators say that they began looking into the Chinese national after the San Francisco police Internet Crimes Against Children unit learned about someone at an apartment in the city sharing child pornography through a peer-to-peer network.
When they executed a search warrant at the apartment, they did not find anyone there and no child pornography was found. However, they learned that Xia, the resident of the apartment, was in Seattle for work and had his digital devices with him. They obtained a search warrant to detain and search his belongings when he returned.
Investigators claim they discovered hundreds of images of child pornography on his laptop. Xia pleaded not guilty and remains in custody on a $100,000 bail.
The consequences of being found guilty on child pornography charges are tremendous and can include:
Under state and federal law, a person can face a child pornography charge for each image or video found in their possession. That can lead to tremendous prison sentences. Being branded as a sex offender is something that nobody wants to ever go through.
These cases are not always black and white, despite what the public may be led to believe. There are many times in which law enforcement and prosecutors get the charges wrong, overcharge defendants, or use illegal methods to obtain their evidence.
Many people may not even realize they have downloaded or shared something illegally until the police knock on their door with a warrant to search their home and electronics.
If you or someone you love are facing sex crime charges related to a minor, please seek legal assistance as soon as possible. At Okabe & Haushalter, you can count on a team with the experience you need to get through this.
We have defended clients in similar situations and we know how to prepare an effective defense. This is not the time to sit back and let a public defender handle your case. The consequences of being found guilty of these charges are severe. When you need a San Francisco child pornography defense lawyer, you can contact us today by calling at 310-543-7708 for a free consultation.
