Courts in the state of Georgia take crimes against children pornography very seriously. For people who are charged with child pornography acts, there is a complicated body of law that can result in strict penalties. As a result, if you are charged with child pornography in Georgia, it is a wise idea to immediately obtain the assistance of a seasoned defense lawyer.

Types of Child Pornography Offenses

There are several different child pornography charges a person in the state of Georgia can face. These offenses include:

• Online explicit conversations between adults and children.
• Online file sharing of sexually explicit content of children.
• Possession of child pornography.
• Producing child pornography.
• Sexual exploitation of children.
• Sexting between adults and children.

Unique Considerations for Child Pornography Charges

In the digital era, there are some unique considerations about how child pornography is used. Some of the important details about these cases that a person must understand include the following elements:

• Peer to Peer File Sharing: A large number of people who possess child pornography use file sharing programs. Sometimes, a person might accidentally download a child pornography file without appreciating the illegal nature of the content. If a person tries to delete the file after becoming aware of its illegal nature, remnants of the file will still remain on that person’s computer.
• Computer Forensics Experts: An expert on computer usage is often able to demonstrate that a person accidentally downloaded child pornography. These experts frequently use data that is recovered from a computer regarding a user’s browsing history.  

Penalties Associated With Child Pornography

Based on the exact charge for which a person is convicted, there are various penalties that can result. Most often, a person charged with child pornography can expect to face the following penalties:

• Fines for a conviction of child pornography can be as much as $100,000.
• A person convicted of child pornography can face up to 20 years in prison.
• A permanent record as a sex offender and mandatory registration requirements.

Defenses to Child Pornography Charges

There are several defenses that can be raised in response to a charge of child pornography. A large number of people choose to raise the defense that they did not actually own the pornography in question and that it actually belonged to someone else. Other people argue that the content for which they have been charged is not actually child pornography and as a result the charge can not stand. A third defense includes arguing that a person did not intend to possess the child pornography in question.

Obtain Assistance in Responding to Child Pornography Charges

Child pornography charges are complicated in nature, which makes it important for people who face these charges to obtain experienced legal assistance. The legal counsel at Shein and Brandenburg is able to provide strong legal representation if you are charged with a child pornography offense.