Gaithersburg, Maryland CSAM Crimes Attorneys

Lawyers for Child Pornography Offenses in Gaithersburg

Because of the ways that information is spread online, criminal charges involving child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) are becoming more common. State and federal officials regularly perform investigations of people who are suspected of possessing or distributing CSAM. These investigations may lead to arrests and criminal charges for CSAM offenses. A conviction is likely to lead to years of incarceration, steep fines, and other penalties. In many cases, defendants will be deemed sex offenders upon conviction, leading to restrictions that will affect housing, employment, and other issues.

Because CSAM charges carry such weight, anyone who has been accused of this type of offense should act immediately to secure legal counsel from a lawyer who knows how to handle these charges. The team at Craig M. Kadish & Associates, LLC has the experience and skills needed to address allegations of CSAM possession, distribution, production, or other related charges.

We understand how prosecutors build their cases and know how to challenge the evidence effectively. We can develop defense strategies to help defendants avoid being convicted, or we can advocate for reduced penalties or take steps to prevent the possibility of sex offender registration. At all times, we will fight to protect our clients' rights and ensure that they receive fair treatment.

Child Pornography Possession in Maryland

Child sexual abuse material may include a wide variety of visual representations in which minors are engaging in sexual conduct. These may include:

• Photographs and moving images, including films or videotapes
• Digital photos or images that have been scanned and stored on computers or other electronic devices
• Files stored on online platforms, such as cloud storage services
• Images or videos that were accessed using electronic devices
• Computer-generated imagery that appears to show real children, including images or videos created using AI tools or services

Under Maryland law, visual depictions may fall under the definition of child pornography if they feature minors under 16 years of age who are engaging in sexual conduct or sadomasochistic acts or are sexually excited. The offense of possession of CSAM may apply when a person is accused of possessing, intentionally viewing or accessing, or retaining CSAM. The penalties that may apply following a conviction may include as many as five years of imprisonment for each offense.

Promotion, Distribution, and Production of CSAM

Creating child sexual abuse materials or distributing these materials to others is considered to be a more serious offense than possession of child pornography. Maryland law defines several types of conduct that may fall under this category of offense, including:

• Creating CSAM by taking photos, recording videos, or using a computer to depict or describe child pornography
• Distributing child pornography or possessing materials with the intent to distribute them
• Promoting, advertising, or soliciting CSAM
• Encouraging or soliciting minors to be involved in creating CSAM by compiling, receiving, exchanging, or disseminating the personal information of a child.

The penalties for a conviction of promoting, producing, or distributing child pornography under Maryland law include a sentence of as many as 10 years in prison. Fines of up to $25,000 may also apply.

The Impact of Sex Offender Registration

CSAM convictions in Maryland will typically lead to sex offender registration. When a person is convicted of child pornography possession, they will most likely be classified as a Tier I sex offender and required to register with law enforcement every six months for 15 years. Depending on the circumstances of a case, our team may take steps to eliminate the requirement to register as a sex offender or reduce the term of registration to 10 years. Get in touch with us to get more information about these options.

For those who are convicted of promotion, production, or distribution of child pornography, the term of registration as a Tier II sex offender will increase to 25 years. Most of the time, the terms of registration cannot be reduced. Regardless of the nature of the charges, our lawyers will work to address issues related to sex offender registration and minimize the ways our client's life will be affected.

Child Pornography Offenses Prosecuted at the Federal Level

In cases where CSAM offenses are investigated by federal officials, when the internet was allegedly used to access or distribute CSAM, or when people are accused of transporting minors through multiple states or countries to create CSAM, criminal charges may be filed in federal courts. Depending on whether a case involves allegations of child pornography possession, distribution, receipt, or production, the maximum sentence may range from 10 to 30 years.

In federal CSAM cases, the United States Sentencing Guidelines (U.S.S.G.) are used to determine the prison sentence for a person who is convicted. Even when a person is convicted of the possession of CSAM, which has no minimum mandatory sentence under federal law, the guidelines may suggest lengthy sentences of as many as 10 years. The extreme nature of these sentences is due to enhancements included in the guidelines that may be applied to nearly every defendant, such as when a computer was used during the commission of an offense.

At Craig M. Kadish & Associates, LLC, we can argue for appropriate sentences that will allow for less prison time or other reduced penalties. In a large number of cases, our clients have received sentences that were much less harsh than would have been imposed without our representation.

Effective Legal Representation in Gaithersburg Child Pornography Cases

Our attorneys are highly qualified to defend clients against CSAM charges because:

• We have successfully represented numerous clients accused of child pornography offenses in Maryland and in federal courts across the country.
• Our in-depth knowledge of child pornography laws ensures that we can identify weaknesses in the prosecution's case and create effective defense strategies.
• We are recognized leaders in this field, regularly providing education to other defense attorneys about how to handle CSAM cases.
• We are trusted by mental health professionals, who often refer clients to us due to our ability to provide compassionate and capable representation.

Contact Our Gaithersburg, MD Child Pornography Defense Lawyers

The consequences associated with accusations of CSAM offenses could affect every aspect of your life. You need to make sure to work with an attorney who understands the complexities of CSAM cases. Contact the Gaithersburg CSAM defense attorneys at Craig M. Kadish & Associates, LLC by calling 410-837-0020 and setting up a free and confidential consultation.