Ridgefield Child Pornography Lawyer
State and federal law enforcement and prosecutors take allegations of child pornography very seriously. Anyone found with any visual depiction of a child under 16 engaging in sexual activity or sexually explicit conduct will almost always be subject to extremely serious criminal charges. A Ridgefield child pornography lawyer could help protect your rights and help you avoid the penalties of a conviction. Contact our firm today to speak with a skilled sex crimes attorney to find out more.
What Are the Different Degrees of Child Pornography Offenses Under State Law?
Connecticut General Statutes §§53a-196d through 53a-196f define three degrees of child pornography possession, each of which is differentiated by the number of discrete visual depictions of child pornography a defendant allegedly possesses. As a Ridgefield child pornography attorney could clarify in further detail, individual frames of videos or films depicting minors engaged in sexual acts are considered discrete visual depictions under state law, so possession of a single video could sometimes result in more severe charges than possession of multiple still images.
Possession of less than 20 instances of child pornography is a third-degree class D felony offense, while possession of between 20 and 50 instances is a second-degree class C felony offense. Possession of any of the following types of media may constitute first-degree child pornography possession, a class B felony:
- More than 50 discrete visual depictions of child pornography
- Any instance of child pornography involving threatened or actual serious physical harm to the child or children depicted
- Any film that depicts two or more children engaging in sexual activity
- Any film that depicts a single child engaging in multiple sexual acts
If I Am Also a Minor Can I Still Be Arrested?
Yes, Connecticut General Statutes §53a-196h separately defines the possession or transmission of child pornography by a minor as a class A misdemeanor, whether that material depicts the defendant themselves or some other underage individual. This means that teens who share explicit photos of another could be arrested for child pornography charges even if they too are under the age of consent.
Are there Affirmative Defenses to Child Porn Charges?
Connecticut General Statutes §53a-196g establishes two affirmative defenses to child pornography possession charges, both of which require very specific circumstances to be applicable. First, a defendant cannot be convicted of child pornography possession if they unknowingly received less than three visual depictions and, upon discovering the material, took immediate action to report the material to law enforcement or destroy it without showing it to any other unauthorized person.
Second, possession of a single visual depiction of a nude minor may be permissible under state law if the defendant possessed the image for a “bona fide artistic, medical, scientific, educational, religious, governmental, or judicial purpose.”
A child pornography attorney in Ridgefield could help analyze your specific case and build a defense strategy around these affirmative defenses or other aspects of a case as appropriate.
Contact a Ridgefield Child Pornography Attorney For Legal Help
If you are facing allegations of child pornography possession, you may have a long legal road ahead of you if you want to preserve your future prospects and avoid a life-altering criminal conviction.
Fortunately, you have help available to you from a Ridgefield child pornography lawyer. Head over to Avvo.com to read out hundreds of 5-star reviews and then call our firm today.