Criminal Defense Lawyers

Seattle Child Pornography Defense Lawyers

Federal Child Pornography Sentencing Lawyers: An In-Depth Guide

Dealing with a federal child pornography charge can be an incredibly difficult and scary situation. The stakes are high, with mandatory minimum sentences that can mean years or even decades behind bars.That’s why having an experienced federal criminal defense lawyer on your side is so important. You need someone who understands these complex cases inside and out, and who will fight relentlessly on your behalf.In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about federal child pornography charges, sentencing, and how a dedicated lawyer can help build the strongest possible defense for your case:

Overview of Federal Child Pornography Laws

Federal child pornography laws are governed by Title 18, Section 2252 of the United States Code. This far-reaching statute prohibits the production, distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography across state lines or that has traveled in interstate or foreign commerce.Some of the major activities prohibited under 2252 include:

• Transporting or shipping child pornography – Even transporting or shipping child porn from one state to another, or to a foreign country, is a federal crime.
• Receiving or distributing child pornography – If you receive child porn that has traveled across state lines, or distribute it to others, you can face federal charges.
• Possessing child pornography – Simply having child porn images or videos stored on a computer or other device can lead to federal prosecution.

• Producing child pornography – Actually creating child porn by filming or photographing minors engaging in sexual activity is illegal under federal law.

Penalties for violating 2252 depend on the exact offense, but can include:

• Prison sentences – Ranging from 5 years up to 20 years or more per count.

• Fines – Up to $250,000 per count.

• Supervised release – Federal equivalent of parole, lasting up to lifetime.
• Sex offender registration – Generally required upon conviction.

So if you’ve been contacted by federal agents regarding child porn, or think you could be under investigation, it’s critical to seek legal help immediately. An experienced federal defense lawyer can start building your defense strategy right away.

Sentencing Guidelines for Federal Child Porn Convictions

If you end up facing charges for a federal child pornography crime, one of the first things your defense lawyer will do is carefully analyze the US Sentencing Guidelines (USSG).The USSG provide a very structured, mathematical formula for determining penalty ranges for all federal offenses – including child porn convictions.While judges have some discretion, the USSG exert tremendous influence over sentences handed down in federal child porn cases. So fully understanding these guidelines is critical.Some of the major factors that impact sentences for federal child porn convictions include:

Base Offense Level

This provides the starting point under the guidelines, based on the specific child porn offense:

• Transporting/shipping: Base level 22
• Receiving/distributing: Base level 22
• Possessing: Base level 18
• Producing: Base level 32

So right from the outset, the base level creates significant variance in potential sentences between different child porn offenses.

Specific Offense Characteristics

These “enhancements” add additional levels depending on other factors, such as:

• Images depicting violence or children under 12 years old
• Number of images (600+ images adds 5 levels)
• Use of a computer
• Participating in an Internet child porn community

So while the base level differentiates between types of offenses, these enhancements further differentiate between offenses based on aggravating factors.

Acceptance of Responsibility

If you plead guilty in a timely manner, you may qualify for a 2-3 level reduction for acceptance of responsibility. So entering an early guilty plea can positively impact your sentence.

Criminal History Score

This score, ranging from I-VI, is based on any prior convictions and also helps determine the final guideline range. The higher the score, the harsher the range.By thoroughly understanding and arguing these various factors, an experienced federal child porn lawyer can often significantly reduce sentencing exposure under the guidelines.

Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Federal Child Porn Convictions

In addition to the sentencing guidelines, federal child pornography offenses may also be subject to strict mandatory minimum sentences enacted by Congress.These impose an absolute “floor” for sentences that judges cannot go below, no matter what the guidelines recommend.Some of the most common mandatory minimums for federal child porn convictions include:

• 5-year minimum – For transporting, shipping, receiving or distributing child porn.

• 15-year minimum – For receiving or distributing child porn if the defendant has a prior conviction for specific sex offenses against a minor.
• 25-year minimum if the defendant has 2+ prior convictions for sex offenses against a minor.

Unlike state criminal cases, federal judges have very little ability to sentence below an applicable mandatory minimum in child porn cases.However, in rare cases, experienced federal defense lawyers can convince prosecutors not to pursue particular mandatory minimums as part of a plea agreement. So skilled negotiating can still make a difference even with mandatory minimums in play.

Using Case Law to Fight for a Below-Guidelines Sentence

Over the past decade, many federal judges have expressed concern that sentencing guidelines for child pornography offenses are overly harsh and produce unjust punishments.In fact, according to federal data, 70% of judges believe the guidelines are too severe for child porn crimes.As a result, courts have increasingly been willing to go below the recommended guidelines in sentencing child porn defendants – especially in cases involving possession or receipt without intent to distribute.However, securing one of these below-guidelines sentences takes an attorney with extensive knowledge of recent case law and sentencing trends.Skilled federal defense lawyers can cite precedents from similar cases to demonstrate that a below-guidelines sentence would be reasonable and appropriate for a particular defendant.

This is vital, because if the judge agrees and hands down a more lenient sentence, that decision is very difficult for prosecutors to overturn on appeal.So if you’re facing federal child porn charges, having a lawyer who knows how to effectively argue for sentencing variances and departures could make an enormous difference in the outcome of your case.

Using Defense Strategies to Fight Federal Child Porn Charges

Given the stakes involved, mounting an aggressive defense to federal child pornography charges is absolutely vital.Although these cases may seem daunting at first glance, experienced federal defense lawyers can often uncover weaknesses in the government‘s arguments – and win dismissals or acquittals as a result.Some potential strategies for fighting federal child porn charges include:

Illegal Search and Seizure

If federal agents conducted an illegal search or seizure to obtain the alleged child porn evidence, an attorney can file a motion to suppress. If granted, this could result in a dismissal or exclusion of evidence that cripples the government’s case.

Invalid Warrants

Similarly, if a federal search or arrest warrant contained errors or lacked probable cause, a lawyer may be able to successfully challenge its validity – preventing the prosecution from using evidence gathered under that warrant.

Misidentification

In child porn possession cases, a common defense strategy involves arguing that someone else is responsible for the illegal files – such as another user of a shared computer. This “misidentification” defense introduces reasonable doubt as to the defendant‘s guilt.

Diminished Mental Capacity

If a defendant suffered from mental illness, low IQ, or other diminished mental capacity when committing their offense, that may constitute a defense against the strict intent requirements under federal child porn laws.

The bottom line is that mounting an aggressive, multifaceted defense is absolutely critical when facing a federal child porn case. Even in very difficult cases, skilled federal lawyers can often achieve positive outcomes through relentless advocacy built on intimate case knowledge.

How Federal Child Porn Lawyers Can Defend Your Rights & Freedom

If you or a loved one are under investigation or charged federally for a child pornography offense, having an experienced federal defense lawyer in your corner could make all the difference.These complex cases require attorneys with extensive knowledge of both computer forensics and the patchwork of state and federal laws used to prosecute child porn offenses.Only seasoned federal defense lawyers have the skills to identify weaknesses in the prosecution‘s arguments – and formulate custom defense strategies that play to your unique case circumstances. And only federal lawyers intimately understand critical issues like federal sentencing guidelines, mandatory minimums and securing below-guidelines sentences.

Most importantly, skilled federal defense attorneys will fight relentlessly to protect your rights, freedom and future at every stage. We‘ll carefully analyze the evidence, file suppression motions, negotiate with prosecutors, and even take your case to trial if beneficial. Our sole focus is on achieving the best possible outcome for you.