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Photo Of Kyle B. Sawyer

Charged With A Crime? It Doesn’t Mean You’re Guilty.

Child Pornography Charges in Arapahoe County

On Behalf of | Nov 11, 2019 | Pornography |

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Child pornography charges in Arapahoe County are an especially serious matter. Just a few clicks can lead to a felony when it comes to sexual content involving juveniles. Possessing or distributing images or videos of anyone under the age of 18 participating in sex acts is unlawful in Aurora, Centennial, and Englewood. In recent news, 17 people were arrested in a child porn sting, 2 of whom worked at an immensely popular theme park. Accusations or charges surrounding child pornography necessitates representation from an experienced criminal defense attorney.

Child Pornography Law in Colorado

C.R.S. 18-6-403 defines the elements of Colorado’s child pornography law. Someone commits this sex offense in Arapahoe County if they choose to:

  • possess, produce, or distribute,
  • sexually explicit material,
  • involving a child under the age of 18,
  • for the purpose of someone’s sexual gratification

It is important to note that any photos or videos showing a child 17 or younger engaging in sexual acts or in positions that are meant to stimulate sexual arousal can qualify as child pornography.

In a day and age with rising costs for everyday devices like smartphones and tablets, purchasing something used or refurbished can be cost-effective, but also risky. It is difficult to know what was once viewed or stored on a device. However, having questionable material in your possession can lead to incredibly impactful criminal charges. Allowing others to use your smartphone or tablet outside of your supervision is equally dangerous.

Penalties for Child Pornography Charges in Arapahoe County

A first offense of possessing a small amount of child pornography in the form of still images is a class 5 felony in Aurora, Greenwood Village, and Littleton. Conviction can potentially result in:

  • 1 – 3 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections,
  • and / or fines of $1,000 – $100,000

A second or subsequent offense or possessing videos containing child pornography is a class 4 felony. This can as much as double the prison sentence and substantially increase the fines. However, those convicted of creating or distributing child porn in Colorado face a class 3 felony. 4 – 12 years in prison and / or fines of up to $750,000 can apply in these specific cases.

Additionally, conviction of sexual exploitation of a child (child pornography) can result in sex offender intensive supervised probation upon release from incarceration, costly and lengthy evaluations and treatment, and decades of sex offender registration.

Best Sex Crimes Attorneys in Arapahoe County

Few criminal charges require more immediate action from a defendant than sexual exploitation of a child. Time is of the essence and consulting the top sex crimes attorneys is vital. If you’ve been contacted by police or think you might be in the future, exercise your right to remain silent and avoid providing statements of any kind. Next, contact our office for a free initial consultation. We will carefully analyze your situation with you and suggest next steps with your best possible outcome in mind.

If you or someone you know is facing child pornography charges in Colorado, be smart. Contact the highly skilled defense lawyers at Sawyer Legal Group, LLC at 303-731-0719. Together, we can protect your future.

Photo Credit: Unsplash – Francois Hoang