Possession of child pornography is a Class 4 felony, and, if convicted, a defendant faces up to 10 years in prison as well as mandatory registration as a sex offender.
Very often, somebody is charged with several offenses in the context of child-pornography cases because there usually is more than one image present, and each image could carry its own, separate charge. So, if there are ten images in possession or produced by the accused, they could face ten counts of possession of child pornography.
Mecklenburg County child pornography penalties are harsh, so if you are facing charges, you may wish to contact an experienced defense lawyer. An attorney could negotiate with prosecutors to mitigate penalties, downgrade charges, and preserve your future to the fullest extent possible.
Production of child pornography carries more serious penalties than simple possession. Under some circumstances, maximum penalties for child pornography production can be as high as 30 and sometimes 40 years. Frequently, there are also mandatory minimum sentences of at least five years. The punishment scheme varies depending on the facts of each case, but for each count of production, an individual could face several decades in prison.
Similar to production, distribution of child pornography carries very serious penalties, including several decades of imprisonment as well as mandatory registration as a sex offender.
One of the most serious long-term implications of a conviction is having to register as a sex offender, which is a public registry that allows the public to search for an individual by name. Sex offender registration could affect housing, employment, and education, and there is a strong stigma that is attached to convictions of that nature that can affect a convicted person’s life in innumerable ways.
The most important thing to remember about child-pornography charges and convictions is that they are incredibly serious and have the potential to be life-altering. It is imperative that the person take the charges exceptionally seriously and retain the services of an experienced and professional attorney as soon as possible.
Considering the serious consequences of a child pornography conviction, a defendant should find an attorney who is experienced in child pornography cases, who can best defend them and can help them achieve the fairest outcome under the circumstances.
Defendants should contact an attorney as soon as possible so the attorney can begin to investigate, gather evidence, engage in the discovery process, and press every advantage in their case.
Because Mecklenburg County child pornography penalties can be so damaging, defendants need experienced legal representation. An attorney could help explain the criminal process to a defendant, help contest the evidence presented against them, examine forensics, do research, and engage experts. They could also properly evaluate evidence and case law as prosecutors bring to bear the full weight of the government against the defendant. Reach out to an attorney as soon as possible if you are facing charges or believe that you are under investigation.