Reisterstown Child Pornography Lawyers

Attorneys Defending Against CSAM Charges in Reisterstown, Maryland

If you have been accused of a sex crime, you are likely to be concerned about your future. These offenses can lead to multiple types of severe penalties, including being sentenced to years or decades in prison and being required to register as a sex offender. Some of the most serious sex crime accusations may involve child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), which are also known as child pornography. To defend against a conviction on these charges, you will need to work with an attorney who has experience defending clients like you.

The team at Craig M. Kadish & Associates, LLC understands the serious nature of child pornography charges. We know how your life may be affected by these accusations, and we are here to help you address these concerns. We have extensive experience defending clients against CSAM charges in both state and federal courts. We are ready to provide effective representation that will focus on protecting your rights and helping you avoid or minimize the penalties that may come with a conviction. With our high level of knowledge and skill in CSAM cases, we do not just defend clients; we instruct other lawyers on the defense strategies that are most likely to be successful.

Charges for Possessing CSAM

The possession of child pornography is a serious offense. A person can be charged with possession of CSAM if they knowingly access or retain, including by storing child pornography on a computer, smartphone, external drive, or cloud storage. CSAM possession charges may be based on accusations of downloading images or videos from the internet or otherwise accessing or viewing CSAM with the intent to retain it.

Under Maryland state law, the penalties a person may face if they are convicted of possession of CSAM include a maximum prison sentence of five years and a classification as a Tier I sex offender, which requires registration for 15 years.

If charges of CSAM possession are prosecuted in federal court, the potential penalty for a conviction includes a prison sentence of up to 10 years. This offense does not have a minimum mandatory prison sentence, but the sentencing guidelines used by federal courts will often impose harsh penalties of around eight to 10 years. We can provide the defense needed to address the sentencing guidelines and achieve more reasonable sentences.

When CSAM Charges May Be Elevated to Distribution or Promotion

Charges involving the distribution of CSAM to other people or advertising or promoting CSAM are more severe than simple possession. A person may face these charges based on accusations of sharing, sending, or facilitating the distribution of CSAM, such as by selling or exchanging CSAM with other people, uploading CSAM to online platforms, or sharing photos or videos via email, file-sharing platforms, or social media.

Under Maryland state law, the distribution, promotion, advertisement, or use of a computer to "depict or describe" CSAM carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and the classification of Tier II sex offender, which will require registration for a term of 25 years. When cases are prosecuted in federal court, a conviction for CSAM distribution or receipt carries a minimum prison sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years.

Increased Charges for Production of CSAM

Crimes involving the creation of child pornography are some of the most serious charges a person can face. These offenses may involve photographing or filming children as they engage in sexually explicit conduct or taking any actions meant to encourage children to create CSAM or assist in the production of sexually explicit content.

Under Maryland law, the production of CSAM carries the same penalties as the distribution of CSAM. However, under federal law, CSAM production carries a prison sentence of no less than 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years.

Why Immediate Legal Representation Is Crucial in CSAM Cases

If you learn that you are under investigation for offenses related to CSAM, you should contact an attorney right away. If law enforcement officials have taken action to seize items you own, such as your computer, phone, or other devices, it is likely that you will be arrested and charged with a crime soon. Our lawyers will advise you on what steps to take to protect your rights and mitigate the impact of the charges. We will make sure you do not say or do anything that could be incriminating.

Legal representation can be especially important in federal cases to address the presumption that defendants should remain in custody while awaiting trial. Our skilled defense attorneys can help you take steps to secure a pretrial release, and we will argue for the least restrictive release conditions to help you minimize the negative impact of these charges on your life.

Defending against CSAM charges requires a thorough understanding of the law and the evidence that may play a role in a case. Our lawyers will analyze all the evidence, including how it was obtained by law enforcement. We can take steps to challenge evidence that was obtained illegally through searches or seizures that were conducted without a warrant or without probable cause. We will work to develop a strong defense that fully addresses all evidence, challenging charges that are not based on facts or evidence and working to help you avoid a conviction.

While we will advocate against a criminal conviction, working to have the charges against you dismissed or make sure you will be found not guilty, we can also help you take steps to mitigate the charges and reduce the potential penalties. With our negotiation skills, we can work with prosecutors to reach agreements that may allow for reduced charges, or we may take steps to help you avoid severe penalties like long-term imprisonment or sex offender registration. When you work with us, you can rest assured that all measures are being taken to resolve your case with the best possible outcome.

Contact Our Reisterstown, MD CSAM Crimes Attorneys

Being accused of offenses involving child sexual abuse materials is a serious matter that demands immediate attention from an experienced attorney. At Craig M. Kadish & Associates, LLC, we have the knowledge and experience to represent you effectively. We can handle both state and federal charges, and we will work to resolve your case in a way that will allow you to move forward with your life. For a free consultation, contact our Reisterstown child pornography defense lawyers at 410-837-0020.