Towson, Maryland Child Pornography Attorneys

Lawyers for Charges of CSAM Possession, Distribution, or Production in Towson, MD

People who face accusations related to child pornography are often treated harshly by the justice system. Child pornography has begun to be referred to as child sexual abuse material (CSAM) by law enforcement officials, emphasizing that these materials involve harm to children. While all accusations of sex crimes are serious, sex crimes that involve children tend to carry more serious penalties. Prosecutors will often work to ensure that alleged offenders are convicted, and they are likely to seek harsh sentences.

Understanding how to defend against these charges can be difficult, and people in these situations may worry that they could be sentenced to years or decades in prison and face other long-term consequences. To make sure charges will be addressed correctly, that a defendant's rights will be protected, and that an effective defense can be raised, representation from a skilled attorney will be needed.

At Craig M. Kadish & Associates, LLC, we have the experience required to defend clients against CSAM-related charges. We have represented numerous clients in both state and federal courts, helping them achieve positive results. We are ready to address serious charges and advocate for outcomes that will allow our clients to move forward while reducing or eliminating the penalties they may face.

Federal CSAM Charges

Federal law imposes strict penalties for people who are convicted of CSAM offenses. In many cases, people are prosecuted for federal crimes based on accusations that CSAM was downloaded or accessed using the internet or distributed in multiple states. Cases involving a large number of images, videos, or digital files of child pornography may also result in federal charges. In other cases, federal prosecution may result from investigations carried out by federal government agencies or task forces.

Charges involving CSAM that may be prosecuted in federal courts include:

• Possession of CSAM: Individuals who are accused of knowingly possessing CSAM can face up to 10 years in prison if they are convicted.
• Receipt or Distribution of CSAM: Offenses in which a person allegedly distributed child pornography to other people, including by posting materials online, selling physical copies, or otherwise making CSAM available to others, can result in a maximum sentence of 20 years and a minimum of five years upon conviction. Notably, the receipt of child pornography carries the same penalties as CSAM distribution.
• Production of CSAM: Coercing, employing, or inducing a minor to engage in sexual conduct in order to record that conduct and create CSAM is the most serious federal child pornography offense. These charges may also address situations where someone allegedly involved a minor in the production of CSAM or where they allegedly transported a minor across state lines in order to produce CSAM. The penalties in these cases include a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years.

The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines (U.S.S.G.) play a role in federal CSAM cases. When a person is convicted, these guidelines are referred to by a judge, and different factors will be weighed to decide on the length of the prison sentence. In many cases, sentencing enhancements that are detailed in the guidelines will significantly increase the length of potential prison sentences. Based on these enhancements, people who are convicted may receive sentences that are close to the maximum if the proper arguments are not made by an attorney.

At Craig M. Kadish & Associates, LLC, we can address the potential enhancements and other factors that may be included in the sentencing guidelines, advocating for more appropriate sentences that take all the facts of a case and the circumstances of a defendant into consideration. For example, we can help judges understand that even though the guidelines include enhancements based on computer use, this is a factor that is present in virtually every case. Through our representation, we have helped a large number of clients achieve outcomes in which their sentences were well below the federal guideline recommendations.

Maryland State CSAM Charges

When child pornography charges are prosecuted at the state level, a lawyer who has a strong understanding of the applicable state laws can provide the legal representation needed. Our attorneys can help determine the best defenses against state-level CSAM charges, including:

• CSAM Possession: This offense may apply if a person is accused of knowingly accessing, retaining, or possessing CSAM. While the maximum sentence for this offense is five years in prison, each piece of CSAM may result in a separate count, and the penalties may add up to a much longer sentence.
• CSAM Promotion, Distribution, or Production: Multiple types of offenses fall under this category, including creating CSAM images or videos, soliciting or inducing minors to create CSAM, depicting or describing CSAM with a computer, advertising or promoting CSAM, sharing or exchanging CSAM with other people, or sharing personal identifying information about a child in an attempt to facilitate unlawful sexual activities. Each count of these offenses may result in a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Sex Offender Registration

Most CSAM convictions in Maryland and federal court will require a person to register as a sex offender. Under Maryland law, possession of CSAM is a Tier I sex offense, and a person who is convicted will face registration requirements that will last for 15 years. With our understanding of the applicable laws and the appropriate defense strategies, we have helped some clients reduce the registration requirements to 10 years or avoid registration altogether. To find out how this may be possible, contact us today.

In cases where a person is convicted of an offense related to the production, distribution, or promotion of CSAM, Maryland law will require them to register as Tier II sex offenders. These registration requirements will last for 25 years. Our lawyers will work to help clients avoid convictions that will require sex offender registration and other penalties that could affect their lives for years or decades to come.

Contact Our Towson CSAM Defense Lawyers

Whether you are facing child pornography charges based on accusations of possessing illegal materials, sharing or distributing CSAM with others, or producing CSAM, you will need a strong defense from a qualified and experienced lawyer. At Craig M. Kadish & Associates, LLC, we can handle complex CSAM cases involving digital evidence, federal investigations, and other factors. We will work with you to build a defense that will help you protect your rights while minimizing the potential consequences. To arrange your free consultation, contact our Towson, MD child pornography defense attorneys today at 410-837-0020.