Child pornography defense lawyer in Wright 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 charged for having or distributing child pornography in the Wright County, MO area, you could be looking at a felony charge and mandatory Missouri sex offender registration if convicted. Don’t leave that to chance.
Call the criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte immediately at (314) 900-HELP or reach out to 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 Wright County, MO?
While there might be prevalent stereotypes, child pornography charges come about in all walks of life throughout the Wright County, 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.
According to RSMo § 573.037, a person is charged with the offense of child pornography if such person knowingly or recklessly possesses any child pornography featuring a minor below 18 years old or obscene material portraying what appears to be a minor less than 18 years old.
A few specific instances of child pornography charges in Wright County and elsewhere in 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: Involves 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 are confronted with charges related to any of these instances or other child pornography charges, it is imperative to contact Combs Waterkotte now at (314) 900-HELP or reach out to us online. You need an experienced advocate on your side to protect your reputation, rights, and future.
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What Are the Legal Ramifications for Child Pornography in Wright County, MO?
From a statutory perspective, as outlined in RSMo § 573.037, the offense of child pornography is considered a class D felony when possessing just one still image of child pornography or one still image considered obscene. The severity of the offense escalates to a class B felony in Wright County, MO if any of the following conditions apply:
- 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
- Prior conviction for an offense under this section
Penalties for Promotion of Child Pornography in and Around Wright County, MO
Engaging in the promotion of child pornography to an adult is classified as a class C felony, punishable by up to 7 years in prison and fines. Additionally:
- 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, leading to imprisonment for a duration of 5-15 years.
- Wright 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.
Penalties for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor in the Wright County, MO Area
If you are facing sexploitation charges, you are facing a class B felony. However, if the child involved was under 14 years of age the charges are elevated to a class A felony, carrying a minimum prison sentence of 10 years with a maximum of life imprisonment.
Wright County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Wright County and Missouri.
Mandatory Sex Offender Registration in Wright 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, 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 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. These offenses include possession of child pornography, indecent exposure, and other nonviolent sexual crimes against minors.
- Tier II Offenders: These 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 Wright 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 Wright County, MO child pornography lawyers, we provide assistance in the following areas for clients in Wright County and anywhere in Missouri:
What Are Common Defenses Against Child Pornography Charges in Wright County, MO?
The Combs Waterkotte skilled Wright County, MO child pornography defense team has a combined 60-plus years of experience defending clients throughout Wright County, MO in cases just like yours. While each case presents its own unique circumstances, our attorneys employ various defense strategies, including:
An Unintentional Possession Defense
Also known as “unintended possession,” this defense argues that you did not intend to possess child pornography in or around Wright County, MO, or that the material didn’t 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 Wright County, MO.
Your knowledgeable Combs Waterkotte defense lawyer will work to establish that you were not aware of possessing child porn. Call us today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online.
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 Wright 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 the subject of the material in question was under 18 years of age. Also, 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 is vigilant in safeguarding your rights, future, and best interests. If evidence was seized illegally, your Wright County, MO child pornography defense lawyer will argue its inadmissibility.
Entrapment
Entrapment can occur in a variety of scenarios throughout Missouri. The defense is rooted in the fact that you would not have committed the offense if law enforcement hadn’t initiated contact with 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 is a possible means to minimize your sentence or, in some cases, avoid imprisonment through participation in a treatment program and probation. Some mitigating factors your Combs Waterkotte Wright County, MO defense lawyer can present could include 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 – Contact a Wright County, MO Child Pornography Defense Lawyer Right Now at Combs Waterkotte
Child pornography charges are serious and can cast enduring, if not permanent, shadows on your reputation and future in Wright County, 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. Don’t try to navigate the uncertainties and complexities of the Wright County or Missouri legal system alone.
We know that good people often find themselves caught in bad situations in Wright County and throughout Missouri. We are here to help. Call our expert Wright County, MO child pornography defense lawyers as soon as possible at (314) 900-HELP or fill out our online contact form to arrange a free, confidential consultation.
