Nearly four years after a Colorado man took pornographic photos of a minor and live-streamed the sexual abuse of the same minor, he was today sentenced “to serve 240 months in federal prison, followed by 20 years on supervised release” (US Department of Justice). According to the release from the Department of Justice, the 22 year old, who would have been 18 at the time of the crime, was arrested after an investigation by an INTERPOL specialist group, Homeland Security Investigations, Cyber Crime Center, and the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit. Producing or distributing child pornography (sexual exploitation of a child) and sexual assault on a child are very serious crimes to be charged with in Denver and throughout Colorado, and they can ruin one's future if convicted.

Sexual Exploitation of a Child in Arapahoe County

In Arapahoe County, you can be charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Child (C.R.S. 18-6-403) if you are found in possession of pornography depicting minors, or any other sexually explicit materials with children. You will also face charges if you produce, distribute, or sell the sexually explicit material. In the case of the man discussed previously, his crime was discovered after an image was found on “The Bulletin Board” of an anonymity network. Investigators were able to tell which digital camera took the photo and linked it to another photo taken with the same camera, this picture being of the defendant himself. Using social media, they found the defendant's current location at a summer camp in Colorado where he was working as a counselor. They were able to get a warrant to search his belongings, which included the camera in question, a laptop, and an iphone.

Search Warrants and Forensic Tool Kit Used to Charge You With Pornography Possession in Jefferson County

If Jefferson County Police have a warrant to search your computer, they will do a detailed and extensive forensic examination of your hard drive, which can recover any incriminating file, whether deleted or not. So if you bought a computer used, or someone used your computer to download sexually explicit material, you could be facing criminal charges. The software, Forensic Tool Kit (FTK), can be used on computer hard drives as well as cell phones, tablets, and notebooks.

Douglas County Penalty for Sexual Exploitation of a Child

Sexual Exploitation of a Child ranges from a Class 5 Felony to a Class 3 Felony, depending on the material, whether or not it is a second or subsequent offense, and whether or not you merely possess the material or if you also played a roll in the making, preparing, publishing, or selling of it. If you are convicted of causing, inducing, enticing, or permitting a child to engage in or be used for child pornography, you will face the sentences of a class 3 felony. In Douglas County, the penalty for a class 3 felony can be anywhere from 4 to 12 years in prison and a fine between $3,000 and $750,000.

Adams County Lawyer for Possession of Child Pornography Charges

If you or a loved one are facing charges for the possession of child pornography in Adams County, it is vital that you have an experienced criminal defense lawyer to represent you in court. If contacted by police, be smart. Exercise your right to remain silent and contact the lawyers at O'Malley at Sawyer at 303-830-0880. Together, we can protect your future.

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