DC Federal Child Pornography Charges

Child pornography charges are taken quite seriously. child pornography possession is a federal offense and can have serious consequences for those who are convicted. If you want to know more about DC federal child pornography charges, consult a capable child pornography lawyer that could answer your questions. An accomplished attorney could build a solid defense for you.

Common Situations Leading to Child Pornography Charges

A common situation where someone might face DC federal child pornography charges is through a tip from a law enforcement agency monitoring online activity or information received from an organization like NCMEC. An investigation is conducted that involves tracing the image to a specific IP address. A subpoena is issued to identify those associated with the IP address by a cable contract or an internet contract.

At that point, a search warrant is executed. Sometimes, there are undercover operations by law enforcement agents posing online as underage minors. Sometimes, a parent finds that their child has engaged in a totality inappropriate relationship with an adult where pictures of the child were sent to the adult at the adult’s direction and the parent contacts the police.

Process of a Child Pornography Investigation

Before arresting someone on DC federal child pornography charges, federal law enforcement agencies do an investigation and obtains a search warrant. When they execute the search warrant, if they find someone actively engaging in downloading pornographic images or they are in possession of child pornography, the agents usually arrest that person on the spot.

Otherwise, they take the electronic devices they find for further analysis pursuant to the search warrant. The agents attempt to interview anyone present at the place they search with the goal of getting somebody to admit they downloaded or received child pornography.?

How Do the Courts Treat Child Pornography Charges?

Possession of child pornography cases is usually brought up in federal courts because the penalties are serious. The Fourth Circuit is quite strict when dealing with child pornography cases. Case law is conservative in this circuit and the prosecutors in the Fourth Circuit methodically and vigorously pursue the charges.

Possible Penalties for Conviction

The possible penalties for DC federal child pornography charges depends on the number of images and a variety of other factors. Penalties range from probation up to many years in prison. Receipt cases have a five-year mandatory minimum, which is a difficult sentence.

What are Possible Lifelong Implications of Conviction?

A conviction for a child pornography case has devastating consequences. In addition to potential prison, there is sex offender treatment which can be onerous when a person does not successfully complete the treatment. The success of the treatment is determined by the probation office and someone could be going back to jail. Sex offender registration is another lifelong implication of a conviction. The person is restricted as to where they can live, where they can work, and who can associate with them. The consequences are encompassing and devastating.

Value of a DC Child Pornography Lawyer

An attorney can serve several roles when they represent someone facing DC federal child pornography charges. The attorney could engage a strategy that helps to keep the person from going to jail while the case is pending. The lawyer could also engage a strategy that helps the person fight the case on a subsequent level, and also helps the person in the event of a bad result. If an individual faces child pornography charges, they should consult a capable lawyer that could mitigate the consequences they may face.