Pictures, images or videos of individuals under the age of 18 years old, which are sexual in nature, are considered child pornography. In Virginia, child pornography is considered the knowledge and possession of potentially sexually explicit materials that contain a minor at the time it was made.
Law enforcement in Virginia dedicates a lot of time to pursuing child pornography cases, as it presents risks to such a vulnerable population. When child pornography exists, it means that a child could be being sexually abused by someone, or multiple individuals. If you are facing charges of sexual offenses against minors, a Virginia child pornography lawyer may be able to assist with your case.
An individual may be involved in a child pornography crime in Virginia, even if they are located in another state. Charges of this nature depend on where the explicit materials come from, where they are being sent, where the accused is, and when they are downloading these items. If it is being produced in another state and the accused has some part in the production, they can potentially be charged with a sex crime in Virginia.
An individual can still be charged with child pornography as a minor. While the results of such a case may differ from adult charges, the offense is still the same. A Virginia child pornography lawyer could attempt to defend an individual against the charges that they face.
If an individual is sexting and sends explicit material of themselves or another who is under the age of consent, it could be charged as child porn.
An individual charged with possession of child pornography may be accused even if under the age of 18. If the accusation is serious, it may be prosecuted as an adult case. There is currently no protection in the State of Virginia for underage minors who sext each other. Whether a charge is prosecuted as a minor or adult case is up to the discretion of the prosecutor.
Sexting came into popularity with the rise of cellphones. When hormones are running high, a minor may think it is innocent to send an explicit image by phone, without recognizing the act is considered creating child porn. The intended recipient, which could be a boyfriend or a crush, could be charged with possessing.
Sexting cases are most often seen in Virginia state court. In Federal court, they look more to the adult who is targeting younger kids. For example, if the accused has multiple images being taken from different websites and different areas. Cases involving minors who are sexting each other would be dealt with in a county court system in Virginia.
An individual should contact an attorney as soon as they are being investigated. A criminal defense lawyer may be able to help prepare for both an investigation and the potential charges. Contact a Virginia child pornography lawyer that could pursue the best possible outcome for you.