When you are charged with a child pornography-related crime, it can feel like a gut punch. Facing any criminal allegation is a daunting experience, but the severe penalties that can accompany child pornography convictions make being charged with this crime all the more worrisome. However, you have the right to a legal defense in criminal court, and you need to exercise that right if you want a chance at getting back to living your life on your own terms. If you need a child pornography lawyer, the aggressive defense attorneys at Okabe & Haushalter can stand up for you in the courtroom.
Child pornography-related crimes are considered crimes of child exploitation under both state and federal laws. Child pornography is defined as any materials—be they videos, photos, or digital media—depicting people under the age of 18 engaged in sexual acts or engaged in acts whose purpose is to cause sexual arousal in the viewer of those materials.
Whether you are alleged to have possessed, distributed, produced or sold child pornography makes a difference in the outcome of your case. All of these specific crimes are outlined under California Penal Code Section 311.
Although the legal penalties for child pornography-related offenses differ according to which specific crime is alleged to have been committed, anyone who is convicted of a crime involving child pornography will face mandatory sex offender registration under California Penal Code Section 290, which dictates that all persons found guilty of one of these crimes must add their personal information to the national sex offender database.
Possession of child pornography could be penalized by both fines and jail time. The fine for possession of these materials is up to 2,500 dollars and the county jail term could be for up to one year.
People convicted of distributing child porn could face similar penalties to those convicted of possessing it: a fine of up to 2,000 dollars and a jail term of not more than one year.
These penalties could be increased in cases where the accused has a similar prior conviction or in cases where financial gain is a factor (i.e., selling child pornography as a business).
You do not have to stand idly by and let these allegations damage your reputation and your life without putting up a fight. If you want to talk to a child pornography lawyer in Palo Alto about your legal defense options, Okabe & Haushalter can help. We are dedicated to what we do, and our strong defense tactics have given us a reputation for courtroom excellence. We have a long list of success stories from clients like you, and we want to add your case to that list. We will fight hard to get your charges reduced or dismissed entirely, and we will work together with you to get your case the most favorable outcome possible. Contact us today for a free consultation.
