Child pornography defense lawyer in Raymore, 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 have been charged for having or distributing child pornography in the Raymore, MO area, you could be looking at felony charges and mandatory Missouri sex offender registration if convicted. Don’t leave your defense to chance.
Reach out to the criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte immediately by calling (314) 900-HELP or contacting us online to schedule a complimentary, no-strings-attached case review. Our skilled child pornography defense lawyer is ready to meet with you personally, analyze the details of your case, and offer insights on the appropriate course of action.
Legal Videos
What Happens When You Are Wrongfully Accused of a Sex Crime?
What happens when you are wrongfully accused of a sex crime? Episode Transcript Steve Waterkotte: Right. And you'll see sometimes, and I've had cases, where you had two individuals …
Too Intoxicated to Give Consent?
Missouri criminal defense lawyers Steven Waterkotte and Chris Combs talk about alleged victims being too intoxicated to give consent. Episode Transcript Steve Waterkotte: Most people …
Criminal Lawyer Talks About Representing Sex Criminals
Real Criminal Defense Lawyer talks about representing sex criminals. Episode Transcript Steve Waterkotte: I always say probably what the public views as the most vile or despicable …
Your Word Against Theirs in Court
Are just allegations enough to get charged with a crime? When it's your word against theirs in court. Episode Transcript Chris Combs: And allegations alone will do it. Steve hit on this …
What Happens When You Are Charged With a Child Sex Crime?
What happens when you are charged with a child sex crime? Episode Transcript Chris Combs: If you're a tier three sex offender, you can only have approved electronic devices. You have to …
What Happens When You Are Wrongfully Accused of a Sex Crime?
What happens when you are wrongfully accused of a sex crime? Episode Transcript Steve Waterkotte: Right. And you'll see sometimes, and I've had cases, where you had two individuals …
Too Intoxicated to Give Consent?
Missouri criminal defense lawyers Steven Waterkotte and Chris Combs talk about alleged victims being too intoxicated to give consent. Episode Transcript Steve Waterkotte: Most people …
Criminal Lawyer Talks About Representing Sex Criminals
Real Criminal Defense Lawyer talks about representing sex criminals. Episode Transcript Steve Waterkotte: I always say probably what the public views as the most vile or despicable …
Your Word Against Theirs in Court
Are just allegations enough to get charged with a crime? When it's your word against theirs in court. Episode Transcript Chris Combs: And allegations alone will do it. Steve hit on this …
What Happens When You Are Charged With a Child Sex Crime?
What happens when you are charged with a child sex crime? Episode Transcript Chris Combs: If you're a tier three sex offender, you can only have approved electronic devices. You have to …
What Can Lead to Child Pornography Charges in Raymore, MO?
While there might be prevalent stereotypes, child pornography charges come about in all walks of life throughout the Raymore, MO area. Missouri Revised Statute § 573.010 defines child pornography as any obscene material or performance depicting sexual conduct, contact, or sexual performance, including a minor under 18 years old as a participant or portrayed observer of the material.
As per RSMo § 573.037, an individual commits the offense of child pornography if such person knowingly or recklessly possesses any child pornography featuring a minor less than 18 years of age or obscene material portraying what seems to be a minor less than 18 years old.
A few examples of specific child pornography charges in Raymore and across the state of Missouri are:
- Possessing Child Pornography: Having child pornography in your possession, regardless 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 participating in any aspect of the creation process of child pornography.
If you are facing charges or have been questioned regarding any of these examples – or any other child pornography charges in Raymore, MO – call Combs Waterkotte now at (314) 900-HELP or reach out to us online. Having an knowledgeable 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 Raymore, 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 Raymore, MO if you:
- Possess more than 20 still images of child pornography
- Possess more than 20 obscene still images
- Possess child pornography in the form of one motion picture, film, videotape, videotape production, or other moving image
- Possess obscene material comprised of one motion picture, film, videotape, videotape production, or other moving image
- Prior conviction for an offense under this section
Penalties for Promotion of Child Pornography in and Around Raymore, MO
The promotion of child pornography to an adult is a class C felony, carrying potential penalties of up to 7 years in prison and fines. Additionally:
- If you knowingly promote child porn to a minor, or promote obscene material of a child under 14 years of age, you could be facing a class B felony – punishable by 5-15 years imprisonment.
- If you have had a previous child pornography conviction, wholesale promotion of child porn, or promoting child porn to a minor in Missouri, it is a class D felony and could mean 4 years in prison and fines.
Penalties for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor in the Raymore, 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 increase to a class A felony, which carries a minimum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment.
Cass County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Cass County and Missouri.
Mandatory Sex Offender Registration in Raymore, MO and Throughout Missouri
According to RSMo § 589.400, any individual charged with the following crimes is required 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 classifies offenders into different tiers for sex offender registration requirements, including:
- 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 for misdemeanor sexual offenses or minor statutory offenses.
- Tier II Offenders: These have 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. Offenses in this category usually involve violent acts including rape, child molestation, sexual assault, as well as repeat offenses.
Penalties for Not Registering as a Sex Offender in Raymore, MO
Failure to register as a sex offender is a class E felony unless the individual is 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 the age of 14, in which case it turns into a class D felony.
Combs Waterkotte is an award-winning criminal defense law firm based in St. Louis. In addition to expert legal representation from our skilled Raymore, MO child pornography lawyers, we provide help in the following practice areas for clients in Raymore and anywhere in Missouri:
What Are Common Defenses Against Child Pornography Charges in Raymore, MO?
The Combs Waterkotte skilled Raymore, MO child pornography defense team has a combined 60-plus years of experience defending clients throughout Raymore, MO in cases just like yours. While every case is different with unique circumstances, some defense strategies our lawyers have used include:
Unintentional Possession Defense
Also known as “unintended possession,” this defense argues that you did not intend to possess child pornography in or around Raymore, MO, or that the material did not belong to you. You also may not have even been aware of the existence of child porn. This may be used if child porn was discovered on a computer or hard drive that is shared, or to which individuals other than you may have had access without your knowledge. You also could have used an unsecured or shared network which enabled another individual to download child porn. An angry co-worker, employee, friend, ex-spouse, or other revengeful individual may be motivated to download child porn on your computer or hard drive in order to frame you in Raymore, MO.
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 contact us online.
An Accidental Possession Defense
The internet can be a treacherous environment. Your computer is continuously susceptible to viruses, spyware, malware, spam, or various other inputs without your knowledge or consent. These intrusions could easily include child pornography or other obscene materials. You, like many other individuals in Raymore and throughout Missouri, have numerous files on your computer you didn’t even know existed.
A “Not Child Porn” Defense
This defense is based on the prosecution’s burden to prove that the subject of the material in question was under 18 years of age. If the material serves a scientific, religious, or educational purpose, it may be argued that it should not be classified as child pornography.
Illegal Search and Seizure
Law enforcement may make procedural errors, violating an individual’s Fourth Amendment rights under the Constitution. The defense team at Combs Waterkotte is vigilant in protecting your rights, future, and best interests. Law enforcement can occasionally push the limits on getting a warrant or may search beyond the scope of said warrant. If evidence against you was seized illegally, your child pornography defense lawyer will argue it is inadmissible.
Entrapment
Entrapment can occur in a variety of scenarios throughout the Raymore, MO area. This defense asserts 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 realize, especially in instances where law enforcement conducts child porn sting operations, rounding up numerous people, not all of whom are guilty.
Psychological Addiction/Mitigating Circumstances
While not guaranteed to result in acquittal, claiming a psychological addiction to child pornography is a possible means to minimize your sentence or, in some cases, avoid imprisonment through participation in a treatment program and probation. Your Combs Waterkotte Raymore, 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 others.
Don’t Wait – Connect With a Raymore, MO Child Pornography Defense Lawyer Right Away at Combs Waterkotte
Child pornography charges are gravely serious and can cast enduring, if not permanent, shadows on your reputation and future in Raymore, MO. However, even in the face of such severity, there exist defenses that can wield effectively by the adept and relentless Combs Waterkotte legal team. Attempting to navigate the uncertainties and intricacies of the legal system in Raymore or Missouri along is risky.
We know that good people often find themselves caught in unfortunate circumstances in Raymore and throughout Missouri. We’re here to help. Call our expert Raymore, MO child pornography defense lawyers as soon as possible at (314) 900-HELP or complete our online contact form to arrange a free, confidential case review.
