CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

South Jersey’s Criminal Defense Lawyers Stand Beside You When No One Else Will

Crimes against children are considered among the most heinous and New Jersey is not alone in punishing perpetrators of such crimes severely. Child pornography falls under the statute for endangering the welfare of children and a conviction under New Jersey and/or federal law can mean fines, imprisonment, and having to register as a sex offender. If you are facing child pornography charges, it is critical that you have a skilled South Jersey criminal defense lawyer on your side and not an overworked public defender. At Aita Law, LLC we draw on more than 20 years of experience to defend our clients and achieve the best possible outcome for every case we handle.

Child Pornography Charges

There are several offenses which qualify as child pornography under New Jersey law. These include:

• First degree offense: Forcing a child to engage in sexual acts or the simulation of such acts with the knowledge that they will be filmed, photographed, or reproduced for the creation of pornographic materials.
• Second degree offense: Producing materials depicting a child engaging in sexual acts or the simulation of such acts. This includes taking photos, videos, and using a computer to create or construct such images.

Storing, distributing or intending to distribute materials depicting a child engaging in sexual acts.

• Third degree offense: Viewing or possessing any material, whether photographs or videos, that depict a child engaging in sexual acts.

Penalties for these offenses in New Jersey range from a minimum of three to five years in jail and a fine of $15,000 for a third-degree offense, to ten to twenty years of imprisonment and a $200,000 fine for a first-degree offense. Under Megan’s Law, those convicted of child pornography must also register as sex offenders and may require parole supervision for life.

Whether you are charged with possession, distribution, sales, transport, or production of child pornography, you will need a skilled South Jersey criminal defense lawyer to evaluate your case and craft a strong defense. If the alleged crime was an exchange over the internet, there may be additional charges of wire fraud. Criminal offenses that cross state lines can mean federal charges. And if a peer to peer network was used to download illegal files and they were accessed by another person, then distribution charges can be added on top of possession charges. The qualified team at Aita Law, LLC understands how these cases are prosecuted and will fight to minimize the devastating impact a conviction could have on your life.

Sexting

Sexting refers to the practice of sending sexual images or videos in a text message or via social media. Both New Jersey and federal law consider sexting with minors to be a form of child pornography. A person under age 18 charged with a first-time sexting offense is afforded some protection; however multiple offenses by a minor can result in severe penalties.

The same is true for adults sending and receiving explicit images of children. While sexting can seem like an easy one-time thrill, it is in fact one the simplest ways for a prosecutor to charge someone with possession of child pornography or endangering the welfare of a child.

Sending or receiving sexually explicit texts involving minors can lead to charges of possession of child pornography. Forwarding an image can add on distribution of child pornography charges. Sexting charges are serious and carry the same severe penalties listed above.

Speak to a Skilled South Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyer at Aita Law, LLC if You are Facing Child Pornography Charges

At Aita Law, LLC we have the knowledge and experience needed to fight the child pornography charges you or your teen are facing. We can provide the skilled representation you will need to achieve an optimal outcome. To schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced South Jersey criminal defense lawyer call 856-287-7800 or contact us online. With offices conveniently located in Haddonfield and Marlton, New Jersey, we proudly represent clients throughout South Jersey including the communities of Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, and Mount Laurel.