I came across an article the other day which perfectly illustrates how far people will go to appear “tough on crime.” The article spoke about how the police are now using dogs to sniff for devices containing child porn. Let's stop and think about that for a minute. How in the world can dogs sniff out an image on a hard drive? Using dogs to find narcotics or bombs make sense – they have a distinct odor. Obviously, images don't have a smell. Instead, the dogs are trained to search for hidden hard drives, thumb drives, or discs, which may contain sexually exploitative material. Are the billions of thumb drives on the market presumed to contain porn? These dogs aren't currently being used in Adams, Larimer, or Denver County. But, they illustrate perfectly how far law enforcement and the courts will go to appear tough on crime.

Thumb Drives, Hard Drives, and Discs Are Commonly Used: How Can Dogs Be Used?

According to the article, these police dogs are only used when the cops are already searching a suspect's home for sexually exploitative materials containing children. They find thumb drives hidden in floorboards, behind ceiling tiles, and in hidden drawers. But, what law enforcement agencies fail to take into account, is whether or not the current house owner was aware the images were hidden in the home. People are quick to judge when it comes to putting “sick” sex offenders behind bars and often overlook justice. Using dogs to search for devices which are commonly used by thousands people across Arapahoe, Douglas, or Jefferson County is ridiculous and unjust.

[pullquote align=”center” textalign=”center” width=”90%”]Are the billions of thumb drives on the market presumed to contain sexually explicit material?[/pullquote]

Sexually Exploitative Material Leads to Criminal Charges

If a person is found in possession of sexually exploitative materials involving children under the age of 18 in Kit Carson County, they will face charges of Sexual Exploitation of a Child – C.R.S. 18-6-403. This crime ranges from a class 6 to a class 3 felony, with up to 16 years imprisonment in the Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC). It is also a sex offense, which means that upon conviction, the defendant will be required to register as a sex offender and complete sex offender treatment overseen by the unjust Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB). If you have been contacted by the police, it is wise to remain silent and contact an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately to begin working on your behalf. Don't give up your future – fight to protect it by working with a skilled criminal lawyer.

Request a Free Consultation

If you or a loved one has been charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Child, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at the O'Malley Law Office at 303-830-0880. Together, we can protect your future.

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