Catonsville, MD Child Pornography Lawyers

Attorneys Defending Against CSAM Charges in Catonsville, Maryland

While many people view pornographic materials on a regular basis, there are some forms of pornography that are illegal. Specifically, pornography depicting minors, which is also known as child sexual abuse material (CSAM), is prohibited. People who are accused of accessing these materials, viewing them on the internet, downloading files to their computers or other devices, sharing materials with other people, or creating CSAM can face serious criminal charges.

A conviction for a child pornography offense can result in decades of imprisonment and multiple other types of penalties. Those who are convicted will be classified as sex offenders, and they may be required to register with law enforcement and subject to restrictions on where they can live and work for the rest of their lives. Because of the severity of these penalties, people charged with CSAM crimes will need to make sure they have representation from an attorney with experience in these types of cases.

At Silverman Thompson, our lawyers represent people in Catonsville, Maryland who are facing child pornography charges. We can provide assistance during every stage of the legal process while working to protect our clients' rights. Our criminal defense team understands how these cases are investigated and the evidence that may play a role in a prosecution. We will advocate on behalf of clients to help them resolve these cases while avoiding convictions and protecting their reputations.

How CSAM Investigations Begin and Develop

The methods used by law enforcement when investigating a person for a child pornography offense will affect the evidence that may be used in a case. Their investigations may involve:

Online Monitoring and Digital Surveillance

Many CSAM investigations begin with law enforcement monitoring someone's online activity. Investigators may actively monitor file sharing networks, online forums, and messaging platforms, looking for activity associated with illegal material. When a person is suspected of CSAM-related activity, investigators may obtain subscriber information from internet service providers or other online accounts, and they may take steps to identify them.

These investigations may raise important legal questions. An IP address that was allegedly involved in downloading, accessing, or sharing child pornography may be associated with a device or an account with an internet service provider. However, locating an IP address will not necessarily identify the specific person who engaged in the alleged activity. Shared networks, household devices used by multiple people, and unsecured wireless connections can all complicate claims that an account holder or device owner is the person who engaged in illegal activity.

Home Searches and Device Seizures

Once investigators have identified a suspect, they may take steps to obtain a search warrant that will allow them to enter a person's home and seize their electronic devices, including computers, phones, tablets, or external hard drives. Our attorneys can review the validity of a search warrant and the manner in which a search was conducted. We may be able to show that there was no probable cause for a warrant, or we may find that investigators exceeded their authority when performing searches. Whenever possible, we will take steps to suppress evidence and prevent it from being used against a person.

Undercover Sting Operations

During some CSAM investigations, undercover law enforcement officers may pose as distributors or collectors of illegal material. They may communicate with someone online to try to obtain information about alleged child pornography offenses. In some cases, our lawyers may be able to show that these investigations engaged in entrapment, taking actions to convince or coerce a person into committing illegal acts that they would not have done otherwise.

Charges Based on Possession, Distribution, and Production of CSAM

Specific charges related to child pornography may include:

Possession

The possession of CSAM is a serious offense, and separate charges may apply for each image or video that a person allegedly possessed, accessed, or viewed. However, possession of CSAM must have been knowing and intentional. Prosecutors must prove that a defendant was aware of the presence of illegal material on a device or that they purposely accessed a website with the intent to view child pornography. Our attorneys may contest these accusations by showing that files existed on a shared device without a person's knowledge or that materials were unintentionally downloaded by malware.

Distribution

Charges related to the distribution of child pornography may arise if prosecutors claim that a person shared, transmitted, or made CSAM available to others. A person may be accused of uploading files online, sending materials through email or other messaging apps, making materials available through cloud storage services, or selling or distributing physical materials like photographs, films, or videotapes. These charges can result in more severe penalties than CSAM possession charges.

Production

Offenses involving the creation of child pornography are the most serious allegations related to CSAM that a person may face. Production of CSAM may involve taking sexually explicit photographs of a minor or making a video depicting a minor in a sexual situation. Other activities that could lead to CSAM production charges include persuading or inducing a minor to make and transmit sexually explicit images or videos, or using software or AI tools to generate or alter photographs or videos of identifiable children and depict these children in a sexually explicit manner.

Related Charges That May Accompany CSAM Offenses

Depending on the facts of a case, a person may face additional charges, such as:

Online Solicitation of a Minor

Communicating with a child online and attempting to engage in illegal sexual conduct may lead to charges of online solicitation of a minor. This charge may be related to a person's online activity, including attempts to meet a minor for the purpose of creating child pornography or convincing a child to send them sexually explicit images or videos.

Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse of a Minor

When a person is accused of engaging in sexual contact with a minor for the purpose of creating child pornography, they may face sexual assault charges. Because of the harm that sexual abuse against children can cause, a person may face a potential sentence of life imprisonment.

Federal Child Pornography Charges

Certain CSAM offenses may be prosecuted as federal crimes. Federal charges will often address actions that took place across state lines or affected people in multiple states. Because online activity will often result in data being transmitted through networks that stretch throughout multiple states or countries, many cases involving accessing, downloading, or distributing child pornography using the internet will result in federal charges.

Contact Our Catonsville Child Pornography Defense Lawyers

If you have learned that you are under investigation for child pornography, or if you have been arrested on CSAM-related charges, the criminal defense lawyers at Silverman Thompson can help you determine how to proceed. We will advise you of the potential defense strategies that may be used in your case, and we will help you determine how to defend against a conviction. Contact our Catonsville, MD CSAM defense attorneys at 410-385-2225 to set up your free consultation.