Silver Spring Child Pornography Lawyer

Attorney for Child Pornography Charges in Silver Spring, MD

Possession or distribution of child pornography is an extremely serious sex crime. Getting convicted means that you would almost certainly serve time in prison and have to register as a sex offender when you are eventually released. Being a registered sex offender can make it impossible to find adequate employment or even housing. Your life would change drastically. Even being accused of this offense can have serious repercussions. Others may see you as a pedophile, even if this is not the case.

The Law Offices of Gerstenfield & Demirji, PC. is committed to providing the best criminal defense services possible to people who have been accused of child pornography, online solicitation of a minor, and other related offenses. Our dedicated Silver Spring, MD child pornography defense attorneys will do all we can to protect your rights and future when you are facing an accusation of this nature.

What is Considered Child Pornography in Maryland?

Generally speaking, "child pornography" refers to sexually explicit images or videos of a person under the age of 18 years old. More specifically, it is a visual depiction of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct or sadomasochistic abuse, or images designed to cause the viewer to believe that the child is engaged in sexual conduct or performance.

The definition does not include all images of nude children. For example, a photograph simply depicting your baby in a bathtub or a video of your very young child pulling off his swimsuit and running through a sprinkler would likely not fall under the definition of child pornography, because there is no sexual conduct taking place.

However, there can be some debate about whether a particular image should be considered child pornography. If there is a legitimate question regarding whether the image or video you had in your possession constitutes child pornography, we may be able to defend you by arguing that the image is nonsexual in nature.

Penalties for Child Pornography in Maryland

The penalties you could face depend on the type of child pornography charge you are facing. Possession is the least serious form of this charge - but still a serious felony - while production and distribution of child pornography are substantially more serious. At a minimum, you could face up to ten years behind bars for possession if this is your first offense of this nature. Subsequent violations, distribution, or production can carry much longer prison sentences.

Many who are arrested for child pornography are also charged with online solicitation of a minor. This is likely if you encouraged a minor to send you sexually explicit material, such as nude photographs of herself or a video of her engaging in sexual conduct. You might be charged with this offense even if it turns out that you were in fact communicating with an undercover law enforcement officer.

You would also have to register as a sex offender. Being a registered sex offender can have an extreme impact on your day-to-day life. Those around you may see you as a dangerous predator, and landlords will be hesitant to rent to you. Few employers are willing to hire registered sex offenders, especially those who offend against children.

If you have children of your own, you might have a serious disadvantage in the child custody case that is likely to follow your arrest and you may be restricted from attending events their friends or classmates are also involved in.

Contact a Silver Spring, MD Child Pornography Attorney

The Law Offices of Gerstenfield & Demirji, PC. is committed to presenting strong legal defenses to those accused of child pornography-related crimes. Our experienced Montgomery County, MD sex crimes lawyers will work to provide you with the best defense possible. Contact us at 301-589-9500 for a complimentary consultation.