Sexual exploitation of a child charges in Jefferson County, Colorado can result when a person possesses, produces, or distributes sexually explicit material of juveniles under 18. This is a particularly complex internet sex crime with devastating consequences. Time in prison, substantial fines, sex offender registration, and an extremely restricted lifestyle are all potential ramifications of a child pornography conviction. Just last month, a high school principal was arrested on 17 counts of child pornography years after banning controversial books from the school where he worked. Accusations or charges of downloading or distributing child porn requires immediate representation from an experienced child sexual exploitation attorney.

What is a Sexual Exploitation of a Child Charge in Colorado?

C.R.S. 18-6-403 defines the specific elements of child sexual exploitation in the state of Colorado. Someone commits this crime in Lakewood, Arvada, or Golden if they:

• possess or prepare sexually exploitative material involving minors under the age of 18,
• entice a minor to be a part of such material,
• or share the material by electronic means

We sometimes see possession of child pornography cases that involve someone purchasing a used electronic device of some type, not knowing what might be stored on the item internally. Buying a used tablet, smartphone, or laptop can be risky. Additionally, when people let friends and family borrow their devices. it's difficult to know what they might view and download.

What is the Sentence for Sexual Exploitation of a Child in Jefferson County?

The penalties of a child pornography conviction in Colorado depend on the specific facts of each case. Below is a brief outline of potential consequences:

• possession of small amount of still images = class 5 felony (1 – 3 years DOC and up to $100,000 in fines)
• possession of videos or 20+ items = class 4 felony (2 – 6 years DOC and up to $500,000 in fines)
• creating or distributing child porn = class 3 felony (4 – 12 years DOC and up to $750,000)

Sex offender registration, intensive supervised probation, and costly treatment / evaluation are also ramifications of child porn offenses. These especially restrictive consequences can make finding stable employment after incarceration very difficult. Limitations on where you can live and who you can communicate with also exist due to registration and supervision.

Jefferson County Child Sexual Exploitation Attorney

There are few crimes that necessitate experienced representation more than sexual exploitation of a child. Prosecutors go all in on internet sex crimes, heightening the need for an aggressive defense attorney. We have decades of experience representing clients facing child pornography charges throughout Colorado and our results truly stand alone. Perhaps you didn't know you possessed pornography or it wasn't for the purpose of sexual gratification. Nonetheless, contact our office for a free initial consultation. We will carefully analyze your sexual exploitation case, as well as suggest next steps.

If you or someone you know is facing child pornography charges, be smart. Contact the strategic sex crimes attorneys at Sawyer Legal Group, LLC at 303-830-0880. Together, we can protect your future.

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters