Snow Hill Child Pornography Attorneys

Lawyers Defending Against Criminal Charges Related to CSAM in Snow Hill, MD

Criminal charges that involve sex crimes are treated more seriously than many other types of offenses, especially when they involve allegations of sexual abuse against children. The creation of child pornography involves this type of abuse, and because of this, child pornography is also referred to as child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Due to the serious nature of crimes involving children, people who are accused of child pornography offenses are likely to be treated harshly by the criminal justice system. Even cases involving the possession of CSAM by people who were not directly involved in child sexual abuse can result in prison sentences lasting for decades and other severe penalties.

At Silverman Thompson, our lawyers understand how devastating child pornography charges can be. We know how people may be affected when they are investigated on suspicion of CSAM offenses, arrested by law enforcement, and charged with criminal offenses. We can provide effective guidance and legal representation in these cases, helping clients understand how to protect their rights, challenge the accusations against them, and avoid convictions whenever possible.

What Is Child Pornography? The Definitions of CSAM

Child pornography may include any visual materials that show a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. This definition is broad, and it may apply to a wide range of materials, with criminal cases addressing multiple ways in which minors may be exploited. Examples of materials that may result in child pornography charges include:

• Photographs and Videos: Many CSAM cases will involve digital or physical images or recordings that depict a minor engaging in sexual conduct. These materials may be produced using cameras, smartphones, or other recording devices.
• Computer-Generated Imagery: Images or videos that are created digitally may qualify as CSAM if they depict actual minors who can be identified. These may include photos or videos created using AI that appear to depict an identifiable child. Even if a child was not directly involved in the creation of these materials, a person who allegedly possessed, distributed, or created the materials could be charged with a child pornography offense.
• Edited Images or Videos: In addition to materials that are generated by computers, other types of materials depicting actual children may be considered CSAM. For example, a photograph of a child's face that is edited into another sexually explicit image may qualify as child pornography, even if the child did not engage in the sexual conduct depicted in the image.

Possession of Child Pornography

A person who is accused of knowingly possessing child pornography may face criminal charges. "Possession" may include intentionally accessing and retaining CSAM, including when visiting websites, downloading files to a computer, or storing files on a device such as a USB drive.

Charges of CSAM possession may apply if law enforcement officials discover CSAM stored on a person's devices, including computers, smartphones, or tablets. Child pornography possession charges may also be based on materials that were stored using online accounts such as cloud storage services. Law enforcement officials may uncover evidence of CSAM possession in a variety of ways, including:

• Executing a search warrant to search a person's home or seize their electronic devices
• Conducting an undercover online investigation and monitoring a person's activities, including websites they have visited, file-sharing networks they have used, and communications with other parties involving the exchange of CSAM
• Receiving tips from outside sources and working with internet service providers or other technology companies to identify CSAM and determine when and where it was accessed or downloaded

When CSAM Possession Charges May Escalate to CSAM Distribution

Child pornography distribution charges are more serious than those involving the possession of child pornography. CSAM distribution charges may involve allegations that a person engaged in activities such as:

• Sharing Files Over Online Networks: Many people use file-sharing programs to download multiple types of files. They may not realize that these programs could be configured to automatically share files with other users. Certain files may be stored on a person's computer or other device without their knowledge, and they could also be accessed by other users of file-sharing networks. This could lead to charges of CSAM distribution even if a person did not intentionally send materials to another person.
• Uploading Files to Websites or Online Platforms: A person may be accused of posting CSAM to online platforms such as image boards, file-sharing websites, or cloud storage services. If others were able to access these files, a person could be charged with CSAM distribution.
• Sending CSAM Via Email, Text, or Other Applications: Accusations of communicating with others online and sharing CSAM with them may lead to charges of child pornography distribution. These cases may involve accusations related to multiple types of electronic communication, including social media direct messages, group chats, or email.

Production of CSAM

Among all child pornography offenses, those involving the production of CSAM are treated as the most serious. The creation of these materials involves the direct sexual abuse or exploitation of a child. Criminal charges in these cases may involve any activities related to the creation of CSAM, including:

• Photographing or making videos that depict the sexual abuse of a child
• Coercing or enticing a minor to produce sexually explicit images or videos
• Recruiting or using a minor in the production of pornographic material
• Live-streaming sexual abuse of a child to others online
• Using computer software or AI tools to create sexually explicit materials that appear to depict an actual child

People who face CSAM production charges may also be accused of other offenses, including sexual abuse of a minor or online solicitation of a minor. If a child was allegedly transported or harbored for the purpose of creating CSAM, a person could be charged with offenses related to sex trafficking.

Contact Our Snow Hill, Maryland Child Pornography Defense Lawyers

Child pornography charges may be prosecuted at the state or federal levels, or both. The penalties of a conviction are likely to be serious, and a person may also face collateral consequences that will have an impact on their life in the future. A well-prepared defense is crucial in these situations, and Silverman Thompson can help our clients determine the best strategies to use. The earlier our team becomes involved, the better we will be able to protect a person's rights and help to defend against a conviction. Contact our Snow Hill CSAM defense attorneys at 410-385-2225 and schedule a free, confidential consultation today.