Few sex crime charges carry penalties as severe as those involving child pornography. In fact, if you are found guilty, many convictions carry mandatory minimum sentences that could have a significant impact on your life for years to come. Fortunately, when you have a respected Mesa sex crimes lawyer from Suzuki Law Group on your side, you can assert your right to defend yourself and potentially avoid the harsh consequences of a guilty verdict.
Our firm will carefully review the circumstances of your case to determine whether alternative options, such as a plea agreement, can be discussed with the prosecutor. We will do everything possible to build a powerful defense if your case needs to go to trial. Contact a trial-proven Mesa child pornography defense lawyer with our firm to request a confidential consultation today and find out what your next steps should be.
Child Pornography Charges Are More Common than You Might Expect
According to data provided by the United States Sentencing Commission, child pornography charges occur far more often than most people expect. More than 69,000 cases are reported annually, with 92% of offenders being men. 75% of child pornography offenders were White, with the average age being 37 years.
Nearly 96% of all child pornography charges reported to the U.S. Sentencing Commission involved United States citizens, while over 65% had little or no prior criminal record. However, only 8.3% of offenders were convicted at trial. Arizona ranks among the top five for the greatest number of child pornography offenders.
Of all reported sex crimes, child pornography charges account for over 42%. For this reason, law enforcement officials at both the state and federal levels have dedicated additional resources and efforts to cracking down on the production, manufacturing, distribution, and possession of child pornography. Unfortunately, when police officers and investigators conduct sting operations, it is not uncommon for individuals to face false accusations involving child pornography crimes, but when you have a respected Mesa criminal defense lawyer from Suzuki Law Group on your side, you can assert your right to defend yourself and potentially avoid the harsh consequences of a guilty verdict.
Prepare to Potentially Face Federal Child Pornography Charges
Child pornography charges often occur in state and federal court. However, whether federal investigators have jurisdiction over your case will be based on a number of factors. Some of these these include:
- Whether the possession, manufacturing, or distribution of child pornography happened on property that is owned by the federal government
- If child pornography and visual depictions cross state lines
- If the accused is a federal employee
- The number of visual depictions in possession or accused of distributing
Federal prosecutors may step in and take over your case if there are a substantial number of visual depictions or if the images have crossed state lines. If convicted at the federal level, consequences will be far more severe than if you were found guilty within the Arizona judicial system. With this in mind, it has never been more important to enlist the services of a child pornography defense lawyer in Mesa with Suzuki Law Group, who has the experience you need to win at trial.
Advantages of Having a Highly Experienced Sex Crime Attorney Defend Your Liberties
While you could get help from a public defender, child pornography allegations carry some of the harshest consequences. Arizona public defenders are often overworked, according to the Arizona Daily Sun, and have caseloads they cannot handle. This means your defense is unlikely to get the attention you need and deserve to avoid the penalties of a conviction.
Working with a child pornography defense attorney in Mesa may be your best option if you hope to protect your reputation and avoid these devastating consequences. Oftentimes, it is in our client’s best interests to work out a plea agreement with the state. This is particularly true if you have an extensive criminal record or the prosecutor’s case against you is undeniably strong.
With over 20 years of experience defending the innocent and protecting the rights of the accused, our child molestation defense law firm is here to help you get through these difficult times. If the state is unwilling to work out any type of plea agreement, we will be ready to defend your liberties at trial. If we can introduce reasonable doubt in the jury, we may be able to safeguard your future.
Recognizing the Severity of Child Pornography Penalties
Child pornography involves multiple types of criminal sex offenses under ARS §13-3553. The number of visual depictions, your role in the case, and other aggravating factors could determine which child pornography charges you face. Some of the most common child pornography offenses include:
- Recording child pornography
- Possessing child pornography
- Transporting child pornography
- Manufacturing child pornography
- Transmitting child pornography
- Viewing child pornography
- Distributing child pornography
Each crime carries its own criminal penalties. The Supreme Court also states that Arizona imposes a mandatory minimum sentence for child pornography depictions that include at least 10 years in prison for every image. For instance, if you are accused of child pornography possession, and there were 50 total images, you could expect to spend the rest of your life in prison, or 500 years total if you are convicted.
Preparing for Possible Sex Offender Registration
If you are found guilty of a child pornography offense, you should also prepare to register as a sex offender. Upon your release, you will need to register with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office’s Sex Offender Notification Unit while residing in Mesa and begin reporting your status within 10 days if you move to another county within the state, according to the Arizona State Senate. When you are required to register on the Arizona Sex Offender Registry, certain pieces of personal information will be made public, such as:
- Where you live
- Where you work
- Your full name
- Any aliases
- Your photo
- The type of crime you were convicted of
- Your sex offender level
- Your height and weight
- Your hair and eye color
- Any identifying tattoos or scars
Trust Your Mesa Child Pornography Defense Lawyer with Your Freedom
The penalties associated with any type of child pornography conviction are steep. Whether you have been charged with receiving, distributing, viewing, possessing, or manufacturing child pornography, a conviction is sure to have a devastating impact on your life and tarnish your reputation, even if you are ultimately acquitted. Take the charges against you seriously by working with a highly experienced Mesa child pornography defense attorney with Suzuki Law Group.
With our criminal defense law firm on your side, you can breathe easier. We will do everything possible to negotiate a plea agreement with the state’s prosecuting attorney and defend your freedoms at trial when necessary. Take control of your defense options when you contact our law office to request a confidential consultation by phone or through our secured contact form today.
Call or text (602) 682-5270 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form