Sexting is a relatively new crime that refers to sending sexually suggestive or pornographic images through text message or email. While this may seem like a silly offense, judges throughout the country, including in Los Angeles, are taking this offense very seriously.
It is important that your child understands the serious implications that can result from sending and sharing explicit images. Some prosecutors are even charging people with the dissemination of child pornography (in cases in which the subject in the image is a minor). This can have severe consequences for a teenager who merely thought they were playing a joke or who wanted to send a “special” picture to their boyfriend or girlfriend.
If your child is accused of distributing or producing child porn, they face criminal charges that can be very grave. Child pornography can be charged when the images or videos involved in the offense include a visual depiction of a child under the age of 18 years old engaged in sexual activity or that is graphic in nature.
Depending on the circumstances of the case, the District Attorney’s Office could decide to charge a minor for producing child pornography (if they sent explicit images or videos of themselves) or distributing child pornography (if they shared the pornographic materials with friends or peers). Penalties are influenced by the specific situation, but a conviction can result in incarceration in a state prison or county jail, heavy fines, and mandatory register as a sex offender.
Child pornography is a felony offense, which means that any person found sexting pictures or images of people under the age of 18, even if the defendant is a minor themselves, can have a devastating impact upon a teen’s life. If your son or daughter is facing sexting charges, it’s important to contact a sex crime defense attorney at Okabe & Haushalter right away.
The penalties of conviction will severely affect your child’s freedoms and future opportunities, especially if the sentence includes mandatory registration as a sex offender. Being included in this registry will have incredible harm upon your child’s life, and they will be wrongfully branded as a sexual predator for the rest of their life, which is why you cannot risk their case in the hands of an inexperienced and uncaring defender. You need the defense of a Los Angeles sex crime attorney that is known for providing relentless advocacy and effective representation for their clients.
We focus a large majority of our criminal defense practice on sex crimes defense and have helped clients of all walks of life fight their sex crimes charges. We understand what is involved in defending someone accused of a sex crime, and know how to best approach the case. You can trust our dedicated defense team to ensure no aspect of the case is left unaddressed, and that an aggressive and strong defense is prepared.
At our firm, we are wholeheartedly committed to making sure sexting charges do not escalate into a conviction of any kind. We know the toll a sex crimes conviction will take on your child’s life, and will ensure every possible measure is taken to resolve the case successfully.