Fishers Possession of Child Pornography Attorney
Few criminal charges are as swiftly filed or as frightening as an investigation into child exploitation. Most likely, you need legal assistance for accusations involving child pornography and are looking for a Fishers possession of child pornography lawyer. Such accusations carry lifelong professional and social repercussions, mandatory sex offender registration, and severe criminal penalties if proven true.
These accusations are taken seriously by Hamilton County prosecutors, and officers often conduct in-depth investigations before making an arrest. Due to the technological nature of these investigations, digital forensic evidence will be crucial to your case. Call a lawyer for reliable help today.
About The Criminal Defense Team of Baldwin Perry & Wiley P.C.
Fishers and Hamilton County are served by the Indiana-based law firm The Criminal Defense Team. The Hamilton County Judicial Center, located at 1 Hamilton County Square, Noblesville, IN 46060, will host the majority of felony trials.
Big cases receive the consideration they require at The Criminal Defense Team of Baldwin Perry & Wiley P.C. This implies that at least two lawyers and one paralegal are involved in each significant felony case. Our legal team examines all digital forensic data, forensic lab results, and police investigative techniques.
Among our lawyers are former prosecutors who have worked on homicide investigations and other crime cases. We are aware of the State’s strategy for handling complicated and sizable trials. Five of the attorneys on The Criminal Defense Team are Board-Certified* Criminal Trial Specialists, which is unique in Indiana.
What Is CSAM?
Although the term “child pornography” may be used to describe illegal images of children, judges, prosecutors, and victim advocacy organizations have mostly switched to using the term “CSAM.” Child sexual abuse material, or CSAM for short, more correctly indicates that a young person was the victim of a crime. The allegations of possessing child pornography are actually charges of possessing CSAM.
It is against Indiana Criminal Statute 35-42-4-4 to possess child pornography. It is illegal for anyone to knowingly or willfully create, possess, or access content that shows a minor engaged in sexual activity.
Prosecutors must demonstrate that you purposefully or knowingly carried the CSAM. For many of the people we represent, knowing the legal definition of “knowing” is a major concern. Among the situations that are always carefully examined are downloads from file-sharing websites, shared computers that are used by multiple users, pornography that infiltrates your computer through a virus, and accidentally installed cache files.
Cases of Child Pornography Possession
Usually, an investigation begins with a digital trace. Federal Task Forces and state-wide intelligence groups will keep an eye on peer-to-peer networks and file-sharing websites. Computers sharing illicit data are identified through network scans.
After identifying an IP address that warrants further investigation, they typically request a search warrant to confiscate computers from a person’s residence or workplace. Police can seize computers and search them at the station with search warrants. This usually consists of:
- Laptops and Computers
- Phones and Tablets
- Mobile phones
- External hard disks
- Flash drives
- Routers for networks
These investigations are no exception to the constant evolution of technology. Without our knowledge, devices can join networks. Without our knowledge, images can be downloaded. Once the police have confiscated laptops, smartphones, and other electronic devices from a site, the actual legal process begins.
Possession of Child Pornography Penalties
Of the 61,678 federal criminal investigations reported in the United States during fiscal year 2024, 1,375 involved charges of child pornography. Since fiscal year 2020, this category has grown by about 34.4%, indicating that enforcement activity continues to increase.
In Indiana, possessing child pornography is typically prosecuted as a felony. Possession of child pornography is a Level 6 felony under the law. If there are multiple possession counts or if the youngster in the photo or video is under 13, the level and severity of the punishment may be increased.
Prosecutors may request obligatory sex offender registration, fines, and jail terms. Years or even a lifetime may pass between registrations. Those who must register must abide by stringent guidelines. These limitations cover everything from where you may live and work to how you can use the internet.
Federal Charges
The federal government may also charge someone with possessing child pornography. Because these transmissions are digital, they sometimes cross state or even international lines, which could lead to federal penalties. The consequences for federal offenses are more severe than those for Indiana charges. As soon as you can, get in touch with a CSAM attorney who has experience defending situations like these.
Hire a Child Pornography Lawyer Today
Similar to how you would seek the advice of a specialist rather than just any doctor for your medical problems, you would do the same for your legal problems.
You should think about retaining a Fishers possession of child pornography attorney as soon as possible if you are being investigated or have been charged. We can assist in advocating for the protection of your constitutional rights throughout police interviews, device searches, and before charges are brought against you, starting from the time law enforcement contacts you.
Contact The Criminal Defense Team Today of Baldwin Perry & Wiley P.C.
A well-planned and strategic defense is what you get when you hire a possession of child pornography lawyer who knows how to look into and evaluate complex digital evidence. At The Criminal Defense Team, a paralegal and at least two members of our legal team analyze possession of child pornography cases before they go to trial.
This indicates that every aspect of the forensic report, search warrant affidavit, and data analysis methodology has been carefully examined. This defense firm employs five of Indiana’s six Board-Certified* Criminal Trial Specialists. Early trial preparation is essential given the seriousness of the possible outcomes in felony cases and the substantial volume of digital evidence involved.
One of the most serious and technically complex crimes that Indiana prosecutors handle is being charged with or being the subject of an investigation for alleged possession of CSAM. You can get assistance from The Criminal Defense Team during the court proceedings. For more information, contact us today. We can advocate for you in court and protect your rights.
*Andrew Baldwin, Kathie Perry, Maxwell Wiley, Kelly Pyle, and Michael C. Cunningham are Board-Certified* Criminal Trial Specialists, as certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Find out why having a Board-Certified* Criminal Trial Specialist as your defense lawyer is important here.