Dundalk, MD CSAM Defense Attorneys

Lawyers for People Arrested on Child Pornography Charges in Dundalk, Maryland

Due to concerns about the sexual abuse of children, law enforcement officials and prosecutors are likely to take a harsh stance against anyone who is accused of an offense involving child pornography. When a person becomes the subject of an investigation involving child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), prosecutors will often fight to secure a conviction, and they may try to impose severe penalties, including a lengthy prison sentence and lifetime sex offender registration.

Understanding how to respond to these accusations and defend against a sex crime conviction is not always easy, which is why legal representation is so important. The criminal defense lawyers at Silverman Thompson know how serious child pornography charges can be, and we know how to defend clients who have been accused of these offenses. With our experience as former prosecutors, we understand how cases are built against defendants, and we can develop strategies to protect our clients' rights from the very first moment they contact us.

Why Law Enforcement May Investigate a Person for CSAM Offenses

Monitoring of File-Sharing Networks

Police officers and other law enforcement officials will regularly monitor online networks that people use to access, download, or share child pornography. They may use specialized software to identify specific IP addresses of devices associated with downloading or sharing illegal files. Investigators may then obtain information about a user from internet service providers or other online services. After identifying a person who was allegedly involved in activities involving CSAM, they may take steps to obtain a search warrant that will allow them to search the person's residence and seize their devices.

These investigations may not always identify the correct person. An IP address may be associated with a device or a home WiFi network, but not necessarily with the specific person who allegedly downloaded or shared CSAM. WiFi networks will often be used by multiple devices, and computers or other devices may be shared by multiple people. In some cases, another person may have used an unsecured wireless connection without someone's knowledge. Our attorneys can highlight these issues and raise doubt about whether a person charged with a child pornography offense knew about activity related to CSAM.

Other Online Investigations

Law enforcement officials may also monitor online forums and social media platforms, looking for activity involving CSAM. They may conduct undercover operations in which they pose as collectors or distributors of illegal material, and they may communicate with others to determine whether they are involved in accessing or sharing child pornography. When arrests occur after interactions with undercover officers, our lawyers can take steps to determine whether these arrests were based on entrapment or coercion.

Tips and Device Seizures

Child pornography investigations may be based on tips from members of the public, including a person's family members or coworkers. If a person's devices were seized by law enforcement in another type of criminal case, and searches of these devices found materials that may be considered CSAM, a person may also be charged with a child pornography offense. Our attorneys can examine the reliability of tips and determine whether searches of devices by law enforcement exceeded the scope of a search warrant.

Why Speaking to Law Enforcement Without an Attorney Is a Serious Risk

When investigators contact a person who is the subject of a CSAM investigation, their goal is to gather information that may be used to support criminal charges or be used as evidence when prosecuting the person. In some cases, a person may believe that cooperating with law enforcement will be in their best interests. They may try to provide reasonable explanations or other helpful information, thinking that by explaining themselves, they will be able to show that they are innocent.

Speaking to law enforcement is rarely a good idea, even if a person believes that they can prove that they did not commit the offense in question. Statements a person makes, answers to officers' questions, or other information provided can be used against a person. Their statements may be taken out of context, and anything they say or do when speaking to officers may be interpreted in ways that could make them look guilty.

The right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment provides protection in these situations. When a person invokes this right and refuses to answer questions or give statements, this is not an admission that they are guilty. Declining to answer any questions can ensure that a person's words will not be used against them. Before saying anything to law enforcement, it is important to first speak with an attorney.

At Silverman Thompson, we can discuss cases with clients, review the circumstances of an investigation, explain the information that law enforcement is likely trying to obtain, and provide guidance on how statements a person makes may affect their case. We will take steps to protect our client's constitutional rights from the very first moment they interact with law enforcement.

Reviewing Digital Evidence

During a CSAM investigation, forensic examiners may search a person's devices or review their online activity to try to obtain evidence that can be used in a criminal case. Our legal team works with digital forensics professionals to analyze the evidence in these cases. We can look at whether files were intentionally downloaded, delivered through malware, or accessed by another user of a shared device. When the government's forensic evidence is presented at trial, our attorneys challenge how it was interpreted and highlight any gaps, procedural errors, or alternative explanations.

Challenging Unconstitutional Searches

The Fourth Amendment requires law enforcement officers to obtain search warrants before searching a person's home or seizing their devices. A search warrant must describe what may be searched and what may be seized. Our attorneys will review search warrants and the ways searches were conducted. We can take steps to determine whether a warrant was too broad or whether officers conducted searches that went beyond what a warrant allowed. When evidence was obtained through illegal or unreasonable searches, we can take steps to have it suppressed during a criminal trial.

Contact Our Dundalk CSAM Defense Lawyers

It is important to act quickly after an arrest for child pornography. If you have learned that you are being investigated, if your devices have been seized by law enforcement, or if you have been arrested and charged with a CSAM-related crime, the lawyers at Silverman Thompson can take steps to protect your rights. We will provide the defense you need from the beginning to the end of your case. Contact our Dundalk, MD child pornography attorneys by calling 410-385-2225 to set up a free consultation.