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San Diego Child Pornography Sentencing Guidelines
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Child Pornography Charges in San Diego – What You Need to Know
So, you or someone you know has been charged with a child pornography offense in San Diego. Take a deep breath, because this is serious – but you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to break down everything you need to know about these charges, and how to build the strongest possible defense.First, let‘s get one thing straight – child pornography is a legal minefield. The laws are complicated, the stakes are high, and one misstep could change your life forever. That‘s why you can‘t afford to go it alone, or hire just any lawyer. You need a team of elite criminal defense attorneys who eat, sleep, and breathe these cases.At Spodek Law Group, that’s exactly what you’ll get. Our criminal lawyers have decades of combined experience taking on child porn cases in San Diego and nationwide. We know this area of law inside and out, from the nuances of state vs. federal charges, to the latest sentencing guidelines and how to strategically navigate them.But we‘re not just legal experts – we‘re fighters who leave no stone unturned in pursuit of the best possible outcome for our clients. We understand this is an incredibly difficult and stressful situation. That’s why we take a hands-on, personalized approach tailored to your unique circumstances.So, let’s dive into the details of what you might be facing.
Understanding California’s Child Pornography Laws
In California, the possession, distribution, and production of child pornography are governed by a web of state laws under Penal Code 311. The key statutes are:
- 311.1 PC & 311.2 PC – Prohibits knowingly sending, transporting, duplicating or possessing child porn with intent to distribute 15
- 311.3 PC – Prohibits knowingly developing, duplicating, printing or exchanging child porn 16
- 311.4 PC – Prohibits hiring, persuading or coercing a minor to participate in child porn 16
- 311.10 PC – Prohibits advertising child porn for sale or distribution 16
- 311.11 PC – Prohibits knowingly possessing or controlling child porn depicting minors 156
The definition of “child pornography” is images or videos depicting anyone under 18 engaged in sexual conduct, whether real or simulated. This covers a wide range of potential scenarios, from a high school student sexting, to an adult downloading explicit content online. 1456One critical element is whether the accused “knowingly” possessed or distributed the material. If you inadvertently downloaded something without realizing it depicted minors, you may have a strong defense. But proving you didn’t know could be an uphill battle. 146The penalties for violating these laws are severe. Most charges are “wobblers” that can be filed as either misdemeanors or felonies at the prosecutor‘s discretion, based on factors like:
- The nature and quantity of the material
- Whether there was intent to distribute
- If minors were directly involved in production
- The defendant’s criminal history
Misdemeanor child porn convictions typically carry up to 1 year in county jail and fines up to $2,500. Felonies can mean 16 months to 8 years in state prison and fines up to $100,000. 1456But that‘s just the start – there are also mandatory sex offender registration requirements that follow you for life, making it difficult to find housing, jobs, and reintegrate into society. 146So as you can see, the stakes couldn‘t be higher when facing charges like these in San Diego. You need attorneys who know how to fight them from every possible angle.
Federal Child Porn Laws and Penalties
In many cases, child pornography charges are also prosecuted at the federal level under laws like:
- 18 U.S.C. 2252 – Prohibits knowingly transporting, receiving, distributing, or possessing child porn that was mailed, shipped or transported across state lines or using the internet 37
- 18 U.S.C. 2252A – Similar prohibitions involving child porn obtained by importing or traveling abroad 37
Federal charges often come into play when the internet, phones, or other technologies are used to access or share the illegal content across state lines. 37The penalties under federal law are even harsher than California’s. Simple possession of child porn carries up to 20 years in federal prison for a first offense. If the content depicts sadistic, masochistic or violent conduct, it’s 15-30 years. 38Repeat offenders face exponentially higher sentences of 40 years to life in some cases. There are also fines up to $250,000 per count. 38So whether charged under state or federal law, the consequences of a child porn conviction in San Diego are utterly devastating – years or decades behind bars, financial ruin, public shaming, and a permanent criminal record that limits future opportunities.But it’s not a life sentence if you have the right defense strategy. There are ways to fight these charges and mitigate the potential fallout, if you know what you’re doing.
Building an Aggressive Defense Strategy
At Spodek Law Group, our child pornography defense strategies are always multi-pronged and tailored to the specific facts of each case. Some potential lines of attack include:
Challenging the Evidence – We‘ll scrutinize how any physical evidence like computers, phones, etc. was obtained for Constitutional violations like illegal searches and seizures. If the evidence was gathered improperly, we may be able to get it excluded and severely weaken the prosecution‘s case. 16
Proving Lack of Knowledge – As mentioned, “knowingly” possessing or distributing the material is a key element. If we can show you genuinely didn‘t realize the content involved minors, it could result in a dismissal or reduced charges. 146
Arguing for Lesser Charges – Perhaps the material doesn‘t meet the strict legal definition of child porn, or the alleged conduct doesn‘t warrant the most severe charges filed. We’ll fight to get charges reduced or diverted to lesser offenses with more lenient penalties. 16
Sentencing Manipulation – If a conviction is unavoidable, our sentencing experts will present extensive mitigating evidence and arguments to keep you from getting the maximum possible sentence. Factors like no prior record, amenability to treatment, and more can make a big difference. 38
Plea Bargaining – In some cases, the best move is negotiating a plea bargain to avoid the uncertainty of trial. Our skilled negotiators will leverage every angle to get you the most favorable terms possible on charges and sentencing. 16The bottom line is this – you can’t just plead guilty and hope for leniency with charges this serious. You need to fight, and you need the Spodek Law Group in your corner to do it.Our criminal defense team has won countless child porn cases in San Diego by employing bold, intelligent strategies tailored to the unique circumstances. We see the angles others miss, and leave no stone unturned in pursuit of justice for our clients.Because when everything is on the line, you need attorneys who will do everything it takes to protect your rights, your freedom, and your future.