Child pornography defense in Denver and throughout Colorado is something the attorneys at Sawyer Legal Group have been practicing for over a decade. Whether you’re accused of downloading child pornography, possessing it, or creating it, especially impactful consequences are materializing. Defendants in these cases face lengthy prison sentences, large fines, strict supervision upon release, and at least 20 years on the sex offender registry. It is crucial that someone contacted by law enforcement about child pornography seek the best representation immediately. Below we discuss the charge of sexual exploitation of a child in more detail and ways our defense attorneys can help defendants in these types of cases.
What Does Sexual Exploitation of a Child Mean in Denver?
Colorado’s child pornography laws prohibit people from possessing, transmitting, and creating sexual material involving anyone 17 and under. CRS 18-6-403 defines these acts in Denver, Adams, and Arapahoe County. Police will look to charge sexual exploitation of a child if they believe you:
- possessed, created, or distributed,
- explicit material showing an underage person (17 or younger),
- engaging in sexual acts
This can include images or video showing fondling, arousal, nudity, masturbation, oral sex, or intercourse. These materials may exist on a person’s laptop, smartphone, tablet, PC, or in printed form. It isn’t uncommon for law enforcement to discover this unlawful activity via forensic investigations where an IP address identifies someone’s physical address and / or devices.
Is Sexual Exploitation of a Child a Serious Felony in Colorado?
A child pornography charge is at minimum a class 5 felony in the state of Colorado, and often there is more than one count in each case. Possession of more than 20 images or any video is a class 4 felony. Defendants in these scenarios face:
- a prison sentence of 1 – 6 years,
- fines of $1K – $500K,
- sex offender intensive supervised probation,
- 20 years minimum of sex offender registration
However, if evidence suggests a defendant was involved in distributing or making child pornography, a class 3 felony applies. This can as much as double the prison sentence and tack on even higher fines.
Denver’s Leading Child Pornography Defense
In criminal cases involving allegations of child pornography, a defendant must proceed carefully. Several months or even a year can go by before a suspect is arrested or a warrant is issued. Contact an experienced sex crimes attorney right away if you think you’re under investigation or law enforcement has tried to contact you. Perhaps you had no idea you were in possession of the material, the images or video weren’t for anyone’s sexual gratification, or the subjects were all 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 the accused in Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Thornton, Centennial, Englewood, Arvada, Golden, and Boulder.