Things Maryland State Internet Child Pornography Lawyer Should Tell You about Your Case IF You are Accused

What is Child Pornography?

Child pornography is termed as all the material including videos, photographs, digital, or computer generated images that indicate or depict the sexual activity involving a child, or a minor. It is a crime and to produce, involve in the filming process, distribution and storage of such material may lead to conviction with severe penalties.

Child Pornography in Maryland?

Individuals who are accused of violating the laws set by the State of Maryland about the Child Pornography are in real trouble. The State has strict laws against sexual offenses especially against sexual offense against Minors or Child Pornography. Long-prison sentences and high fines are sentenced to those who are charged by the court along with registration in the sexual offender’s registry for a life time.

Federal or Maryland State Charges?

The investigators evaluate and collect all the related data and evidence on the accused’s computer, analysis of the data and evidence obtained is then evaluated with other information, and then after careful analysis of the crime and evidence involved they decide about what laws are to be implied.

The Factors that play their roles in determination of the charges are;

  • The number of images on your computer
  • The number of times you have visited Internet destinations that deal in child porn
  • The type of video or images
  • Viewing frequency

The nature of conversations you have had over multiple mediums too are took into account.

Maryland Child Pornography Violations

There are following ways a person could be violating the laws of Maryland in line with the Maryland laws:

A suspect

“Knowingly promoting, soliciting, distributing, or possessing (with intent to distribute) any visual representation or performance of a minor engaging in sadomasochistic abuse or sexual conduct.” If convicted for the above the accused could face up to 10 years in state prison and a $25,000 fine as per [Section 11-208]

Guilty

If an individual can be proven that the suspect had solicited a child for the purposes of performing a sexual act. The penalty is for a year in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000 per offense. [Section 11-209].

Possession

Possession of such material but without the intention to sell or distribute it – essentially having it for one’s own personal use. At least a year in jail on first conviction and a fine of $1,000 for each of the count, and up to three years and a $3,000 fine for all the subsequent convictions per-count [Section 11-202(b)].

Federal Child Pornography Charges

If your case is to be prosecuted using Federal laws, here is what you might be facing in the court room. Depending on the severity of the child pornography violations – usually those who are directly involved and are interstate – related offenses, most importantly if the medium involves internet. Some of verdicts could be:

  • Sexual Exploitation of Children – Making of Child Pornography [18 U.S. Code Section 2251]
  • Selling and Buying of Children [18 U.S. Code Section 2251A]
  • Certain activities relating to material constituting or containing child pornography, which can include offenses such as online solicitation [18 U.S. Code Section 2252A]

Production of sexually explicit material depicting a minor for importation into the United States [18 U.S. Code Section 2260]

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