If you’ve been accused of distributing or possessing child pornography, then you know how much trouble you could be in with the law. When facing these charges, you need to be defended in a way that allows the courts to see why the allegations against you are completely wrong or why the situation shouldn’t lead to a life of incarceration.
The first thing you need to ask yourself is whether you’re being charged at the federal or state level. That difference is important; Maryland authorities could be keeping your case, or it could be sent to federal prosecutors, which could be much more serious. After you’ve been arrested on charges for the possession of child pornography, the authorities typically perform a search and seizure operation at your home. That’s the point when you’ll want to consider seeking legal help, since what you say from then on can directly affect your case.
It’s also wise to make sure the search and seizure was done correctly following all legal requirements. If it wasn’t, some of the evidence in your case may be able to be suppressed. If police, for instance, didn’t have probable cause for searching your home or getting a warrant to do so, then your case could potentially be thrown out of court and dismissed.
If you’re convicted of child pornography charges, you could face several serious consequences. The maximum penalty for having child porn in Maryland is 20 years of incarceration. The same is true in federal court, and you also face a lifetime of being placed on a sex offender registration list that anyone, from friends to family to new neighbors, can see at any time.
No matter what your situation is, you deserve the right to defend yourself. Click here if you want to learn more about the facts of your situation.
Source: Waechter Law Firm, “Maryland Internet Child Pornography Attorney” Sep. 18, 2014
