Montgomery County Child Pornography Lawyer
Few criminal accusations in Montgomery County are as serious as those that allege the exploitation of children. Near the top of this list are allegations involving the possession, creation, or distribution of child pornography.
Under state law, merely possessing this material is illegal and can result in severe penalties. In other circumstances, people may face allegations involving the creation of this material or its distribution to others. Here, a conviction can have life-long consequences.
A Montgomery County child pornography lawyer may be able to help you if you are facing criminal charges relating to the possession or distribution of this obscene material. A seasoned defense attorney could provide more information about the state’s laws on these matters as well as formulate a defense designed to help protect your rights in the present and future.
State Laws Concerning Child Pornography
It is always illegal to possess or have anything to do with child pornography. However, state law creates a variety of criminal offenses depending upon how a person allegedly uses or distributes this material.
The core offense is present in Maryland Code, Criminal Law § 11-208. This statute says that it is a misdemeanor-level offense for a person to knowingly possesses and retain any image showing a child under the age of 16 engaged in a sexual act or as the subject of abuse.
More serious allegations involve the alleged creation or distribution of child pornography. Under MD Code, Criminal Law § 11-207, it is a violation to possess any child pornography with the intent to distribute this material. Similarly, it is against the law to solicit or entice a minor to create this material or to take part in the production of child pornography. A MoCo attorney may be able to help regardless of the specific child pornography charge a person faces.
Consequences for Illicit Content Involving Minors
Just as the law differentiates between the possession and creation of child pornography by creating two different statutes, the law also authorizes different penalties for these separate offenses. The possession of child pornography is a misdemeanor offense if it is the first conviction. As a result, courts may order a prison term of up to five years, a fine of no more than $2,500, or both. If the allegation is a repeat offense, the charge is a felony where the maximum prison term increases to ten years and the fine rises to $10,000.
Allegations involving the creation of child pornography are more serious. These are always felony cases, and a first conviction comes with a maximum prison term of ten years and a possible fine of $25,000. Subsequent convictions can involve prison sentences of up to 20 years and fines of up to $50,000. A child pornography lawyer in Montgomery County could help develop defenses that could help parties to avoid these severe outcomes.
Contact a Montgomery County Child Pornography Attorney Immediately
If you are facing criminal charges related to the possession, creation, or distribution of child pornography in Montgomery County, you need to act swiftly to protect yourself. Even a misdemeanor-level conviction under state law could result in a multiple-year jail sentence and the payment of stiff fines. More serious accusations are felonies where convictions are almost certain to result in time spent in prison.
A Montgomery County child pornography lawyer may be able to help you to avoid this outcome. They could explain the state’s laws, evaluate the strength of the prosecutor’s case, and build a defense that could help to raise reasonable doubt in the minds of jurors. Reach out now to get started.