Randallstown Child Pornography Defense Lawyer

Defense Lawyer Handling Child Pornography Charges in Randallstown, MD

Accusations of sex crimes are serious, regardless of the circumstances. When these accusations involve the sexual abuse of children, the penalties a person may face will not only include the possibility of a long sentence in prison and massive fines, but also ongoing restrictions on where they can live, what types of jobs they can hold, and many other parts of their life. When a person has been charged with a crime involving child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) or child pornography, they will need to understand what steps they can take to protect their rights and defend against a conviction.

At Silverman Thompson, our attorneys provide legal help for people in Randallstown who are facing child pornography charges. We can defend against charges prosecuted at both the state and federal levels. With decades of experience in criminal law that includes representation in hundreds of sex crime cases, our team can make sure the right steps are taken to defend against these charges while protecting our client's rights.

Situations That May Lead to CSAM Charges

Child pornography charges may be based on a wide range of activities involving child sexual abuse materials. Our lawyers can help clients understand the specific charges they may face and the best ways to address the accusations against them. We can assist with charges involving:

Accessing Websites Containing CSAM

A person may be charged with a child pornography offense if they are accused of intentionally accessing or viewing illegal materials. After visiting a website that contains child pornography, files may be stored on a device automatically. This could result in charges of CSAM possession, even if a person did not intentionally download or save a file. Our attorneys may challenge these charges by showing that a person was not aware that a website they visited contained illegal materials, that they did not intentionally view CSAM, and that they were unaware that files had been saved on their device.

Downloading CSAM to a Device

Child pornography possession charges may be based on accusations that a person intentionally downloaded images or videos to a computer, phone, tablet, or other device. In many cases, these charges are based on activity that was associated with an IP address. However, this will not necessarily identify the person who allegedly downloaded CSAM. Our lawyers may take steps to show that multiple people used a device or had access to a network, and we will work to demonstrate that our client did not download the materials in question and did not know about files that had been saved.

Uploading CSAM to Websites or Cloud Storage

When a person is accused of uploading CSAM to websites or file hosting services, they could be charged with child pornography distribution, which is a more serious offense than child pornography possession. These cases will often involve the use of file-sharing software, including in cases where files that had been downloaded to a device were made available for others to access. Our attorneys can take steps to show that files were not intentionally downloaded and that our client was unaware that the files were accessible to others.

Selling CSAM

The commercial sale of child pornography may be addressed in investigations performed by local, state, or federal law enforcement officials. A person who is accused of selling illegal materials to others may face charges of CSAM distribution. Other related offenses may also apply, such as money laundering. Our lawyers can help clients address the financial evidence involved in a case and defend against accusations that they sold or distributed CSAM.

Creating CSAM by Recording or Photographing Children

Child pornography production charges are the most serious offenses related to CSAM. Because the creation of CSAM will involve the sexual exploitation of children, people accused of these offenses may face charges related to both child pornography and child sexual abuse. CSAM production charges may involve accusations that a person photographed a minor or made video recordings as they engaged in sexual conduct. Charges may also address claims that a person persuaded or induced a minor to produce images of themselves and share those images online. Our attorneys can help clients determine the best ways to defend against these accusations.

Computer-Generated CSAM

In recent years, the definition of CSAM has been extended to include certain types of materials that are created digitally, including through the use of artificial intelligence. If images or videos appear to depict an actual minor who can be identified, they may be classified as CSAM. The creation of these materials could lead to charges of CSAM production, and CSAM distribution charges may apply if a person is accused of sharing these materials with others on websites, social media, or elsewhere. Our lawyers can help defend against these charges by arguing that materials did not depict an actual child, or we may determine what other defenses may be available.

Contact Our Randallstown CSAM Defense Lawyers

Because of the serious nature of CSAM, immediate legal representation will be needed after a person has been arrested or learns that they are under investigation. The team at Silverman Thompson can help clients understand their legal options in these cases, and we will provide aggressive representation as we defend against accusations and work to prevent a sex crime conviction. Contact our Randallstown, MD child pornography charges attorneys at 410-385-2225 to schedule a complimentary consultation.