Have you or someone you know been charged with Child Pornography in Pennsylvania? The charge of Child Pornography in Pennsylvania can have very serious consequences that can include up to seven years in prison and thousands in fines.
It is possible to mistakenly violate the child pornography laws, because of the internet. For example, if you are downloading/viewing images or a movie and one of the individuals in those images or movie is under age you have violated the child pornography laws. If you are even charged with this offense it will affect everything that you do, as the stigma will permeate every aspect of your life. Let alone what a conviction will do, in addition to the jail and fines, you will be required to register as a sex offender for possibly the rest of your life.
Pennsylvania law makes it a crime to intentionally or knowingly view or possess books, magazines, photos, videos, computer depictions or other materials that depict children under 18 engaging in sexual acts or simulating those acts.
In Pennsylvania, it is illegal to photograph, sell or distribute images of children under 18 engaging in or simulating sex acts to appear in books, magazines, films, computers or other materials.
In Pennsylvania, these types of cases are typically handled by the State Attorney General’s office, instead of the local District Attorney Office.
If you are charged with a child pornography offense, do not talk to the police or prosecutors without an attorney. What you say will be taken out of context and used against you. If the police try to question you, exercise your sixth Amendment and tell them you want a lawyer. Do not consent to any searches of your house, computer, or phones without a proper warrant.
Once you have retained a competent Criminal Defense Attorney they will review all of the allegations being made by the police and prosecutors, including any evidence that they claim to have. In many cases, it will benefit you if a forensic computer expert is obtained to do a detailed analysis of your computer.
It is extremely important to contact an experienced law firm right away if you or someone you know is facing criminal charges in Pennsylvania. If you, your son, daughter, or loved one in Pennsylvania has been arrested for a crime in state or federal court in Pennsylvania you need legal representation. Here at Manchester and Associates, e represent people across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. For a free consultation, we can be contacted at 1-800-243-4878.