Blue Springs, MO

Child pornography defense lawyer in Blue Springs, MO. Confronting accusations or charges related to the possession or distribution of child pornography poses a substantial risk to your personal and professional standing. If you find your accused of possessing or distributing child pornography in Blue Springs, MO, you may be confronted with serious felony charges and mandatory Missouri sex offender registration upon conviction. It is crucial not to leave your defense to chance in such a critical situation.

Call the criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte immediately at (314) 900-HELP or reach out to us online for a free, no-obligation case review. Our expert child pornography defense lawyer will meet with you one-and-one, discuss the specifics of your case, and provide guidance on next steps.

What Can Lead to Child Pornography Charges in Blue Springs, MO?

Despite prevailing stereotypes, child pornography charges can impact individuals from all walks of life in and around Blue Springs, MO. As outlined in Missouri Revised Statute § 573.010, child pornography is defined as any material or performance that is obscene and depicts sexual conduct, contact, or sexual performance, involving a minor under 18 years of age as a participant or portrayed observer.

As per RSMo § 573.037, a person commits the offense of child pornography if such person knowingly or recklessly possesses any child pornography featuring a minor under 18 years old or obscene material portraying what appears to be a minor below 18 years old.

A few specific instances of child pornography charges in the Blue Springs, MO area are:

• Possessing Child Pornography: The act of having child porn in one’s possession, irrespective of the quantity or form – digital, physical, etc.
• Promoting Child Pornography: Distributing or selling child pornography to an adult, or promoting adult pornography to a minor.
• Sexual Exploitation of a Minor: Filming, photographing, or participating in any aspect of the creation process of child pornography.

If you are facing charges or have been questioned regarding any of these examples – or any other child pornography charges in Blue Springs, MO – call Combs Waterkotte now at (314) 900-HELP or reach out to us online. Having an experienced advocate by your side is crucial to safeguarding your reputation, rights, and future.

What Are the Legal Ramifications for Child Pornography in Blue Springs, MO?

Statutorily, under RSMo § 573.037, the offense of child pornography is a class D felony if you possess only one still image of child pornography or one obscene still image. The offense becomes a class B felony in Blue Springs, MO if you:

• Possess more than 20 still images of child pornography
• Possess over 20 obscene still images
• Possess child pornography comprised of one motion picture, film, videotape, videotape production, or other moving image
• Possess obscene material in the form of one motion picture, film, videotape, videotape production, or other moving image
• Prior conviction for an offense under this section

Legal Ramifications for Promotion of Child Pornography in and Around Blue Springs, MO

The promotion of child pornography to an adult is a class C felony, punishable by up to 7 years in prison and fines. Also:

• If you knowingly promote child porn to a minor, or promote obscene material of a child under 14 years of age, you could be facing a class B felony – punishable by 5-15 years imprisonment.
• Blue Springs, MO residents with a prior child pornography conviction, engaging in widespread promotion of child pornography or promoting it to a minor, may face a class D felony, punishable by 4 years in prison and fines.

Legal Ramifications for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor in the Blue Springs, MO Area

If you are facing sexploitation charges, you are facing a class B felony. However, if the child involved was under 14 years of age the charges increase to a class A felony, carrying a minimum prison sentence of 10 years with a maximum of life imprisonment.

Mandatory Sex Offender Registration in Blue Springs, MO and Throughout Missouri

According to RSMo § 589.400, any individual charged with the following crimes is required to register with the Missouri Sex Offender Registry within three days of their conviction or release from jail, prision, or probation:

Missouri also breaks down offenders into different tiers for sex offender registration requirements, including:

• Tier I Offenders: These individuals have a 15-year registration requirement and must report to the Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) in person once a year. These offenses do not include child pornography, and are for misdemeanor sexual offenses or minor statutory offenses.
• Tier II Offenders: Offenders in this tier face a 25-year registration requirement and must report to the CLEO in person semiannually. Offenses in this category may include possession of child pornography, indecent exposure, and other nonviolent sexual crimes against minors.
• Tier II Offenders: Individuals in this tier have a lifetime registration requirement and must report to the CLEO in person every 90 days. Offenses in this category usually involve violent acts like rape, child molestation, sexual assault, as well as repeat offenses.

Penalties for Not Registering as a Sex Offender in Blue Springs and Throughout Missouri

Failure to register as a sex offender is considered a class E felony unless you are required to register after being charged with an offense in chapter 566 which was an unclassified felony, a class A or B felony, or a felony involving a child under the age of 14, in which case it turns into a class D felony.

Combs Waterkotte is an award-winning criminal defense law firm based in St. Louis. Along with expert legal representation from our skilled Blue Springs, MO child pornography attorneys, we provide assistance in the following areas for clients in Blue Springs, MO:

• Child Abuse & Neglect Lawyer
• Homicide Lawyer
• Assault Lawyer
• Rape Defense Lawyer
• Sex Offense Lawyers
• DWI Attorney
• Crime Defense Lawyers
• Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys

What Are Common Defenses Against Child Pornography Charges in Blue Springs, MO?

The Combs Waterkotte skilled Blue Springs, MO child pornography defense team has a combined 60-plus years of experience defending clients throughout Blue Springs, MO in cases just like yours. While every case is different with unique circumstances, some defense strategies our lawyers have used include:

An Unintentional Possession Defense

Also known as “unintended possession,” this defense argues that you did not intend to possess child pornography in or around Blue Springs, MO, or that the material did not belong to you. You also may not have even been aware of the existence of child porn. This may be used if child porn was discovered on a computer or hard drive that is shared, or to which individuals other than you may have had access without your knowledge. You also could have used an unsecured or shared network which enabled another individual to download child porn. An angry co-worker, employee, friend, ex-spouse, or other revengeful individual may be motivated to download child porn on your computer or hard drive in order to frame you in Blue Springs, MO.

Your Combs Waterkotte defense lawyer can establish the most important factor – that you didn’t possess child pornography to your knowledge. Give us a call right away at (314) 900-HELP or reach out to us online.

Accidental Possession Defense

The internet poses various threats, and your computer may be exposed to viruses, spyware, malware, spam, or other elements without your knowledge. These intrusions could include child pornography or other obscene materials. Many individuals throughout Blue Springs and Missouri have files on their computers that they are unaware of. An accidental possession defense argues that you did not knowingly possess child pornography, emphasizing the unintentional nature of its presence on your device.

A “Not Child Porn” Defense

This defense challenges the prosecution’s burden to prove that material in question involves anyone under the age of 18. Also, if the material serves a scientific, religious, or educational purpose it should not be considered child pornography.

Illegal Search and Seizure

Law enforcement may make procedural errors violating an individual’s Fourth Amendment rights under the Constitution. The defense team at Combs Waterkotte always has your rights, your future, and your best interests in mind in Blue Springs, MO. If evidence was seized illegally, your Blue Springs, MO child pornography defense lawyer will argue its inadmissibility.

Entrapment

Entrapment can manifest in various situations throughout the Blue Springs, MO area. The defense is rooted in the fact that you would not have committed the offense if law enforcement hadn’t contacted you and persuaded you to do so. Officers could also try to induce individuals to purchase content which wasn’t clearly labeled or believed to be child porn, only to arrest them for buying child porn. Entrapment happens more often than we might know – particularly when law enforcement runs a child porn sting operation which may round up numerous individuals, not all of whom are guilty.

Psychological Addiction/Mitigating Circumstances

While it isn’t necessarily a winning defense, claiming a psychological addiction to child pornography can serve as a strategy to minimize your sentence or, in some cases, avoid imprisonment via a treatment program and probation. Some mitigating factors your Combs Waterkotte Blue Springs, MO defense lawyer can present could include mental health issues, a history of abuse or neglect, extreme stress or anxiety, family conflict, lack of guidance as a child, and more.

Don’t Wait – Contact a Blue Springs, MO Child Pornography Defense Lawyer Now at Combs Waterkotte

Child pornography charges are serious and can cast enduring, if not permanent, shadows on your reputation and future in Blue Springs, MO. But, as serious as they are, there are defenses available from the skilled and tenacious Combs Waterkotte legal team. Don’t try to navigate the uncertainties and complexities of the Blue Springs or Missouri legal system alone.

We recognize that good people often find themselves caught in bad situations in Blue Springs and throughout Missouri. We’re here to help. Call our expert Blue Springs, MO child pornography defense lawyers right away at (314) 900-HELP or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free, confidential case review.