Child pornography possession is unlawful throughout Douglas County and the state of Colorado. Charged as sexual exploitation of a child, this felony sex offense involves possessing underage, sexually explicit material. Having images or video on your laptop, smartphone, or tablet that show minors under 18 behaving sexually can lead to prison time, fines, strict supervision, and public sex offender registration. Skilled representation is of the utmost importance if you or someone you know is facing child porn charges in Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, or Parker. Below we discuss how our experienced criminal defense attorneys can help those navigating these serious allegations.
Douglas County Child Pornography Laws
Douglas County’s child pornography laws prohibit possession, distribution, and creation of underage porn. CRS 18-6-403 is the complex criminal code that addresses these acts of sexually exploiting children. You commit a possession offense in Douglas, Arapahoe, or Elbert County if you:
- possess sexually explicit material,
- showing a minor under the age of 18,
- engaging / participating in erotic fondling, nudity, masturbation, or oral, anal, or vaginal sex
When law enforcement suspects someone is in possession of child pornography, they’ll often issue a search warrant for the devices in that person’s residence. Next, a forensic examination attempts to find and uncover any and all suggestive material. While police sometimes receive tips online that someone is dabbling with child porn, family or friends reporting the behavior occurs as well.
How Bad is Child Pornography Possession in Colorado?
While each sexual exploitation of a child case is different, penalties are especially harsh in Colorado. Possessing underage porn is at minimum a class 5 felony and can result in:
- a prison sentence of 1 – 3 years,
- fines of $1K – $100K,
- sex offender registration (minimum of 20 years)
However, if a defendant was in possession of 20+ items, any video or moving images, or it was a second or subsequent offense, a class 4 felony applies. This can double the prison sentence, add significant amounts to the fines, and also requires a minimum of two decades of registration.
Lawyer for Child Pornography Charges
Finding the best lawyer for child pornography charges is critical to a defendant’s future. Hiring a skilled defense attorney early on has many benefits and often leads to a better outcome.
We have decades of experience fighting sexual exploitation charges. Our attorneys persistently pursue the best possible outcome for each of our clients. Perhaps you didn’t know you had the items on your device, they weren’t for sexual gratification, or the subjects were 18 or older. Nevertheless, contact our office for a free, confidential consultation.
We offer same-day jail visits, affordable fees, and flexible payment plans for those facing allegations of child pornography throughout Colorado’s front range.
Don’t talk to police about child porn charges – talk to us. Sawyer Legal Group, LLC 303-265-1950
Photo by Duy Hoang