Lee’s Summit, MO

Child pornography defense lawyer in Lee’s Summit, MO. Facing allegations of or charges for the possession or distribution of child pornography threatens to destroy both your reputation and your future. If you have been charged for having or distributing child pornography in or around Lee’s Summit, MO, you could be facing a felony charge and mandatory Missouri sex offender registration if convicted. Don’t leave that to chance.

Call the criminal defense attorneys at Combs Waterkotte immediately at (314) 900-HELP or reach out to us online for a free, no-obligation consultation. 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 Lee’s Summit, MO?

Despite prevailing stereotypes, child pornography charges can impact individuals from all walks of life in and around Lee’s Summit, 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, an individual commits the offense of child pornography if such person knowingly or recklessly possesses any child pornography of a minor below 18 years of age or obscene material portraying what appears to be a minor less than 18 years of age.

A few examples of specific child pornography charges in the Lee’s Summit, MO area are:

• Possessing Child Pornography: Having child pornography in your possession, regardless 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’re confronted with charges related to any of these instances or other child pornography charges, it is imperative to contact Combs Waterkotte right now at (314) 900-HELP or reach out to us online. You need an experienced advocate on your side to protect your reputation, your rights, and your future.

What Are the Legal Ramifications for Child Pornography in Lee’s Summit, MO?

From a statutory perspective, as outlined in RSMo § 573.037, the offense of child pornography is considered a class D felony when possessing just one still image of child pornography or one still image considered obscene. The severity of the offense escalates to a class B felony in Lee’s Summit, MO if any of the following conditions apply:

• Possess more than 20 still images of child pornography
• Possess more than 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 Lee’s Summit, MO

Engaging in the promotion of child pornography to an adult is classified as a class C felony, carrying potential penalties of up to 7 years in prison along with 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, leading to imprisonment for a duration of 5-15 years.
• If you have had a previous child pornography conviction, wholesale promotion of child porn, or promoting child porn to a minor in Missouri, it’s a class D felony and could mean 4 years in prison and fines.

Legal Ramifications for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor in the Lee’s Summit, MO Area

If you are facing sexploitation charges, you are facing a class B felony. However, if the child involved was under 14 years old the charges are elevated to a class A felony, which carries a minimum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment.

Mandatory Sex Offender Registration in Lee’s Summit, MO and Throughout Missouri

Under RSMo § 589.400, individuals charged with specific crimes are obligated to register with the Missouri Sex Offender Registry within three days of their conviction or release from jail, prision, or probation:

Missouri classifies 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. These offenses 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. These offenses include violent acts such as rape, child molestation, sexual assault, as well as repeat offenses.

Penalties for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender in Lee’s Summit, MO

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

Combs Waterkotte is a leading criminal defense law firm based in St. Louis. Along with expert legal representation from our skilled Lee’s Summit, MO child pornography attorneys, we provide assistance in the following areas for clients in Lee’s Summit, MO:

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

What Are Common Defenses Against Child Pornography Charges in Lee’s Summit, MO?

The Combs Waterkotte skilled Lee’s Summit, MO child pornography defense team boasts a collective experience of over 60 years, dedicated to defending clients in Lee’s Summit, MO in cases similar to yours. While every case is different with unique circumstances, some defense strategies our lawyers have used include:

Unintentional Possession Defense

The basis of this defense, also commonly referred to as “unintended possession,” is that you didn’t mean to have child porn in your possession, or that the material did not belong to you. It may be applicable if child pornography was found on a shared computer or hard drive or on a device accessible to individuals other than yourself without your knowledge. An unintentional download through an unsecured network or the malicious actions of a vengeful ex-spouse or someone else in Lee’s Summit, MO could also be considered.

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

Accidental Possession Defense

The internet poses various threats, and your computer is susceptible to viruses, spyware, malware, spam, or other elements without your knowledge. These intrusions could include child pornography or other obscene materials. Many individuals throughout Lee’s Summit 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.

“Not Child Porn” Defense

This defense challenges the prosecution’s burden to prove that material in question involves any individual under the age of 18. Additionally, 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 Combs Waterkotte defense team always has your rights, your future, and your best interests in mind in Lee’s Summit, MO. If evidence was seized illegally, your Lee’s Summit, MO child pornography defense lawyer will argue its inadmissibility.

Entrapment

Entrapment can manifest in various situations throughout the Lee’s Summit, 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 a multitude of people, not all of whom are guilty.

Psychological Addiction/Mitigating Circumstances

While not guaranteed to result in acquittal, claiming a psychological addiction to child pornography is a possible means to minimize your sentence or, in some cases, avoid imprisonment through participation in a treatment program and probation. Some mitigating factors your Combs Waterkotte Lee’s Summit, 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 – Reach Out to a Lee’s Summit, MO Child Pornography Defense Lawyer Now at Combs Waterkotte

Child pornography charges are gravely serious and can cast enduring, if not permanent, shadows on your reputation and future in Lee’s Summit, MO. But, as serious as they are, there are defenses available from the skilled and tenacious Combs Waterkotte legal team. Attempting to navigate the uncertainties and intricacies of the legal system in Lee’s Summit or Missouri along is risky.

We understand that good people often find themselves caught in bad situations in Lee’s Summit and throughout Missouri. We are here to help. Call our accomplished Lee’s Summit, MO child pornography defense lawyers right away at (314) 900-HELP or complete our online contact form to arrange a free, confidential case review.