Facing a child pornography charge is an intimidating experience. Potential incarceration in prison, fines, and compulsory registration with the sex offender database can seem frightening, not to mention the possible alienation from family and friends you may face as a result of these allegations. However, being charged with a criminal offense does not mean that you lose your rights, and one of those rights is to a legal defense in the courtroom. A criminal defense attorney can help you fight against the allegations leveled against you in court. Contact a child pornography defense lawyer at Okabe and Haushalter if you are facing criminal charges related to child pornography.
State law defines child pornography as any materials (including photos, videos, or digital data) depicting a minor child under the age of 18 engaged in sex acts, or in such a way as to elicit sexual arousal from the person viewing said materials. State laws outlining criminal offenses related to child pornography are covered under California Penal Code Section 311. This area of the penal code says that possession, transportation, production, distribution, and sale of child pornography is an illegal act of child exploitation and may be punished by fines, jail or prison time, as well as mandatory sex offender registration under Penal Code Section 290.
Different types of child pornography crimes are punished with different penalties if a conviction is reached in court. For example, anyone who is accused of selling child pornography for the purposes of commercial gain faces very large fines(up to 100,000 dollars) and up to six years in a state correctional facility, while simply possessing these materials could be penalized by a year in a county jail and a fine of up to 2,500 dollars if convicted. However, all crimes related to child exploitation require mandatory sex offender registration in cases where a conviction is made.
Every circumstance surrounding child pornography charges is unique, but depending on the details surrounding your case, there are a variety of defense tactics that can be used to go up against the allegations you are facing. For example, if you were charged with possessing child pornography but were not aware that the persons depicted in the materials were beneath the age of 18, or if the possessed materials were intended for use in research-related or academic purposes, it is possible that charges could be dropped entirely or reduced in the case of a conviction.
If you need a child pornography defense lawyer in Venice or anywhere else in the greater Los Angeles area, the attorneys at Okabe and Haushalter can assist you. We have offices located throughout L.A. county staffed by knowledgeable, results-driven criminal defense attorneys. Our time-tested defense strategies can help to get your charges reduced or even thrown out entirely. We offer zero-cost case evaluations to all potential clients, so call or click now to find out more about how we can assist you with your case in court.
