Child pornography defense lawyer in McDonald County, MO. Facing allegations of or charges for the possession or distribution of child pornography threatens to destroy both your reputation and your future. If you’ve been accused of having or distributing child pornography in or around McDonald County, MO, you could be facing a felony charge and mandatory Missouri sex offender registration if convicted. Don’t leave your defense to chance.
Call the criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte immediately at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a free, no-obligation case review. Our expert child pornography defense lawyer will meet with you one-and-one, discuss the specifics of your case, and provide guidance on next steps.
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What Can Lead to Child Pornography Charges in McDonald County, MO?
Despite prevailing stereotypes, child pornography charges can impact individuals from all walks of life in and around McDonald County, MO. As outlined in Missouri Revised Statute § 573.010, child pornography is defined as any material or performance that is obscene and depicts sexual conduct, contact, or sexual performance, involving a minor under 18 years old as a participant or portrayed observer.
As per RSMo § 573.037, an individual commits the offense of child pornography if they knowingly or recklessly possess any child pornography featuring a minor below 18 years of age or obscene material portraying what seems to be a minor under 18 years of age.
A few examples of specific child pornography charges in McDonald County and across the state of Missouri are:
- Possessing Child Pornography: The act of having child porn in one’s possession, irrespective of the quantity or form – digital, physical, etc.
- Promoting Child Pornography: Distributing or selling child pornography to an adult, or promoting adult pornography to a minor.
- Sexual Exploitation of a Minor: Encompasses filming, photographing, or taking part in any aspect of the creation process of child pornography.
If you’re facing charges or have been questioned regarding any of these examples – or any other child pornography charges in McDonald County, MO – call Combs Waterkotte now at (314) 900-HELP or reach out to us online. Having an experienced advocate by your side is crucial to safeguarding your reputation, your rights, and your future.
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What Are the Legal Ramifications for Child Pornography in McDonald County, MO?
Statutorily, under RSMo § 573.037, the offense of child pornography is a class D felony if you possess only one still image of child pornography or one obscene still image. The offense becomes a class B felony in McDonald County, MO if you:
- Possess more than 20 still images of child pornography
- Possess over 20 obscene still images
- Possess child pornography comprised of one motion picture, film, videotape, videotape production, or other moving image
- Possess obscene material in the form of one motion picture, film, videotape, videotape production, or other moving image
- Have previously been found guilty of an offense under this section
Penalties for Promotion of Child Pornography in McDonald County, MO
The promotion of child pornography to an adult is a class C felony, punishable by up to 7 years in prison along with fines. Also:
- Knowingly promoting child pornography to a minor or distributing obscene material featuring a child under the age of 14 could escalate the charges to a class B felony – punishable by 5-15 years imprisonment.
- McDonald County, MO residents with a prior child pornography conviction, engaging in widespread promotion of child pornography or promoting it to a minor, may face a class D felony, punishable by 4 years in prison and fines.
Legal Ramifications for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor in the McDonald County, MO Area
Charges related to sexual exploitation of a minor are categorized as a class B felony. However, if the child involved was under 14 years old the charges are elevated to a class A felony, which carries a minimum prison sentence of 10 years with a maximum of life in prison.
McDonald County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in McDonald County and Missouri.
Mandatory Sex Offender Registration in McDonald County, MO and Throughout Missouri
According to RSMo § 589.400, individuals charged with specific crimes are obligated to register with the Missouri Sex Offender Registry within three days of their conviction or release from jail, prision, or probation:
- Possessing and/or promoting child pornography
- Using children in sexual performances
- Promoting sexual performance by children
- Sexually exploiting a minor
- Public display of sexually explicit material
- Promoting pornography for minors
- Promoting obscenity
- Coercing others to accept obscene materials
- Promoting prostitution
- Sexual contact with nursing home residents
Missouri also breaks down offenders into different tiers for sex offender registration requirements. Those include:
- Tier I Offenders: These individuals have a 15-year registration requirement and must report to the Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) in person once a year. These offenses do not include child pornography, and are more for misdemeanor sexual offenses or minor statutory offenses.
- Tier II Offenders: Offenders in this tier face a 25-year registration requirement and must report to the CLEO in person semiannually. Offenses in this category may include possession of child pornography, indecent exposure, and other nonviolent sexual crimes against minors.
- Tier II Offenders: Individuals in this tier have a lifetime registration requirement and must report to the CLEO in person every 90 days. These offenses include violent acts such as rape, child molestation, sexual assault, as well as repeat offenses.
Penalties for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender in McDonald County and Throughout Missouri
Failure to register as a sex offender is a class E felony unless you are required to register after being charged with an offense in chapter 566 as an unclassified felony, a class A or B felony, or a felony involving a child under 14 years of age, in which case it turns into a class D felony.
Combs Waterkotte is a leading criminal defense law firm based in St. Louis. Along with expert legal representation from our skilled McDonald County, MO child pornography attorneys, we provide assistance in the following areas for clients in McDonald County and anywhere in Missouri:
What Are Common Defenses Against Child Pornography Charges in McDonald County, MO?
The Combs Waterkotte skilled McDonald County, MO child pornography defense team boasts a collective experience of more than 60 years, dedicated to defending clients in McDonald County, MO in cases similar to yours. While every case is different with unique circumstances, some defense strategies our attorneys have used include:
Unintentional Possession Defense
The basis of this defense, also commonly referred to as “unintended possession,” is that you didn’t mean to have child porn in your possession, or that the material did not belong to you. It could be applicable if child pornography was found on a shared computer or hard drive or on a device accessible to individuals other than yourself without your knowledge. An unintentional download through an unsecured network or the malicious actions of a vengeful ex-spouse or someone else in McDonald County, MO could also be considered.
Your Combs Waterkotte defense lawyer will work to establish that you were not aware of possessing child porn. Call us right away at (314) 900-HELP or reach out to us online.
An Accidental Possession Defense
The internet poses various threats, and your computer is susceptible to viruses, spyware, malware, spam, or other elements without your knowledge. These intrusions could include child pornography or other obscene materials. Many individuals throughout McDonald County and Missouri have files on their computers that they are in the dark about. An accidental possession defense argues that you did not knowingly possess child pornography, emphasizing the unintentional nature of its presence on your device.
“Not Child Porn” Defense
This defense challenges the prosecution’s burden to prove that material in question involves any individual under the age of 18. Additionally, if the material in question serves a scientific, religious, or educational purpose it should not be considered child pornography.
Illegal Search and Seizure
Law enforcement often makes procedural errors, violating an individual’s Fourth Amendment rights under the Constitution. The Combs Waterkotte defense team always has your rights, your future, and your best interests in mind in McDonald County, MO. If evidence was seized illegally, your McDonald County, MO child pornography defense lawyer will argue its inadmissibility.
Entrapment
Entrapment can occur in a variety of circumstances throughout Missouri. The defense is rooted in the fact that you would not have committed the offense if law enforcement hadn’t contacted you and persuaded you to do so. In some cases, officers may induce individuals to purchase content which wasn’t clearly labeled or believed to be child porn, only to arrest them for buying child porn. Entrapment happens more often than we might know – particularly when law enforcement runs a child porn sting operation which may round up multiple individuals, not all of whom are guilty.
Psychological Addiction/Mitigating Circumstances
While not guaranteed to result in acquittal, claiming a psychological addiction to child pornography can serve as a strategy to minimize your sentence or, in some cases, avoid imprisonment via a treatment program and probation. Your Combs Waterkotte McDonald County, MO defense attorney may present various mitigating factors, such as mental health issues, a history of abuse or neglect, extreme stress or anxiety, family conflict, lack of guidance as a child, and more.
Don’t Wait – Connect With a McDonald County, MO Child Pornography Defense Lawyer Right Away at Combs Waterkotte
Child pornography charges are gravely serious and can have lasting, if not permanent, implications on your reputation and future in McDonald County, MO. But, as serious as they are, there are defenses available from the skilled and tenacious Combs Waterkotte legal team. Attempting to navigate the uncertainties and intricacies of the legal system in McDonald County or Missouri along is risky.
We know that good people often find themselves caught in bad situations in McDonald County and throughout Missouri. We’re here to help. Call our expert McDonald County, MO child pornography defense lawyers right away at (314) 900-HELP or complete our online contact form to arrange a free, confidential case review.
