Crofton Child Pornography Defense Lawyers

Attorneys for CSAM Possession, Distribution, or Production Charges in Crofton, MD

In recent years, law enforcement officials have become more and more concerned about child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), which is another term for child pornography. Many people have been accused of spreading these materials over the internet or through other methods, and the government has tried to crack down on these activities. This means that anyone who is accused of accessing child pornography or downloading it to a computer or other device may not only face charges of CSAM possession, but more serious charges related to the distribution or production of these materials may also apply.

Charges related to child sexual abuse materials carry some of the most severe penalties that may apply to people facing criminal charges. The consequences of a conviction may not just include prison time and fines, but a person could be subject to ongoing restrictions as a registered sex offender. Because of the seriousness of these cases, legal representation from an attorney who understands child pornography charges and the potential defenses is essential.

At Silverman Thompson, we can defend people in Crofton who are facing child pornography charges, and we can assist with cases handled in both state and federal courts. Our criminal defense team works to protect our clients' rights at every stage of the legal process, and we will provide guidance on the best ways to resolve these cases successfully.

How CSAM Is Defined

In general, child pornography may consist of any visual representation of a minor that is considered to be sexually explicit. Materials may depict minors as they engage in sexual intercourse or other sex acts, or they may involve nudity. Understanding the full range of materials that can fall within these definitions is important, because CSAM charges can arise in a wide variety of circumstances. Child pornography may include:

Physical Photographs and Printed Materials

Photos, magazines, or other physical materials may depict minors engaging in sexual activity. While physical media is less common in modern CSAM prosecutions than digital evidence, possession of physical materials can result in the same criminal penalties as those involving digital materials. Photographs or other print images may be discovered during a search of a person's property by law enforcement.

Videotapes and Films

Recorded videos depicting minors engaging in sexual activities may include VHS tapes, DVDs, or other physical media. Like physical photographs, these formats are not as common as digital files, but they can still result in CSAM charges.

Digital Photos and Videos

The vast majority of modern CSAM cases involve digital files. Photographs and videos may be stored on computers, smartphones, tablets, or external hard drives. They may also be saved on cloud storage accounts or other online systems. Digital files can be easily copied, transmitted, and stored, and this may raise questions about who possessed or shared specific material, when files were accessed, and how they were downloaded to a particular device.

Computer-Generated and Digitally Altered Images

CSAM may also include images that have been created digitally, including those that are generated using computer graphics or artificial intelligence (AI). If computer-generated images or videos depict real, identifiable minors, they may be classified as child pornography. These include actual photos or videos of minors that have been altered to depict the child in a state of nudity or engaging in sexual activities.

Livestreams and Real-Time Content

When videos are streamed online that show a minor engaging in sexual conduct, they may be considered CSAM, even if no recording was made. Real-time streaming of sexual conduct involving minors may be considered production of child pornography, and a person could face charges if they encouraged or coerced a child into making these types of videos.

Possession of Child Pornography

A person may face criminal charges based on accusations that they intentionally possessed CSAM. In these cases, each file, photograph, or other form of child pornography that a person allegedly possessed may be charged as a separate count. Even if a single offense may not lead to a lengthy prison sentence, multiple counts can add years to a sentence.

When prosecuting a person for CSAM possession, the government will need to prove that they knowingly possessed the materials in question. Our attorneys can help defend against these accusations by showing that a device where CSAM had been downloaded or stored was shared by multiple people or that a person was unaware of files downloaded without a person's knowledge due to malware on a computer or unauthorized remote access.

Distribution of Child Pornography

Charges can escalate if a person is accused of not just possessing child pornography, but distributing it to others. A person may be accused of sending CSAM to someone else through email or other forms of online communication. They may be accused of uploading material to websites or file hosting services that other people could access. In these cases, our lawyers can take steps to show that a person did not know that their computer was sharing files with others and they did not intentionally distribute child pornography.

Production of Child Pornography

The most serious charges related to CSAM involve the production of these materials. However, these charges may involve additional activities beyond photographing or filming minors in sexual situations. A person may be accused of persuading, coercing, or allowing a minor to produce images of themselves and transmit those images. Profiting from CSAM distribution or being involved in the production of child pornography in any way could result in serious criminal charges.

CSAM production charges can be especially serious, because a person may also be accused of offenses like sexual assault of a child or online solicitation of a minor. Prosecutors take allegations of sexual exploitation of children very seriously, which makes it essential for defendants to have an experienced lawyer on their side as they defend against a conviction.

Contact Our Crofton, Maryland Child Pornography Defense Attorneys

If you have learned that you are under investigation for a child pornography offense, or if you have been arrested on CSAM charges, getting immediate legal help from a skilled attorney is the most important thing you can do. The team at Silverman Thompson is ready to help you address these charges, and we will work to develop a successful defense strategy for you. Contact our Crofton CSAM charges defense lawyers at 410-385-2225 to arrange a free consultation.