Sexual exploitation of a child in Boulder County is a sex offense that stems from possessing, sending, or creating child pornography. Images or videos that show anyone 17 or younger behaving sexually or exposing themselves can lead to a warrant for your devices, alongside a forensic examination. Earlier this month, a Colorado man was arrested for allegedly posing as a single mother on chat apps and asking for / sending explicit material. If you or someone you know is facing allegations regarding child pornography in Colorado, exercise your right to remain silent and contact an experienced criminal defense attorney right away.

Boulder County Child Pornography Laws

Boulder County's child pornography laws prohibit having, sending, or manufacturing underage images and videos. CRS 18-6-403 addresses the specific elements of sexual exploitation of a child throughout Colorado. You commit this crime in Boulder, Longmont, or Superior if you:

• possess or contribute in any way to distributing or creating,
• pornographic images or video involving someone under 18 engaging in sexual acts

Files that show a child or teenager engaged in fondling, nudity, masturbation, oral sex, or intercourse are considered sexually explicit. These images and / or video are often found on laptops, tablets, desktops, and smartphones after police execute a search warrant. With many specialists at their disposal, prosecutors try to uncover as much material as possible via thorough forensic examinations. The more they find and if they've been sent elsewhere, the higher the charge.

Penalties for Sexual Exploitation of a Child in Boulder

Each child pornography case in Colorado is different. Penalties don't always look the same. Sexual exploitation of a child is at minimum a class 5 felony. However, it can reach the level of a class 3 felony for distribution or creation. Defendants in child porn cases face the following for a conviction:

• a prison sentence of 1 – 12 years,
• fines of $1K – $750K,
• sex offender registration,
• sex offender evaluation / treatment

In some cases, the court may consider a smaller county jail sentence coupled with a period of time on sex offender intensive supervised probation. This is an especially strict monitoring program that supervises just about every element of a defendant's life, from where they can work to if and when they can use the internet. In addition to treatment overseen by Colorado's Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB), these ramifications create a restrictive and isolated lifestyle.

Boulder Sex Crimes Attorney

Accusations of sexually exploiting a child in Colorado require immediate action by the defendant. We highly recommend that you exercise your right to remain silent if contacted by police or an investigator. Next, contact our office for a free, confidential consultation with an experienced sex crime lawyer. Perhaps you didn't know you were in possession of the files, the material wasn't for sexual gratification, or the minors were 18. Nevertheless, skilled representation is crucial to your future. We offer same-day jail visits, affordable fees, and flexible payment plans for those facing allegations in Westminster, Broomfield, Boulder, and throughout Colorado.

So, don't talk to police about child pornography allegations – talk to us. Sawyer Legal Group, LLC 303-830-0880

Photo by Felix Besombes