Noblesville Possession of Child Pornography Attorney
Few criminal charges come with the immediate judgment and lifelong consequences that being accused of a sex crime involving pictures does. If you’re here looking for a Noblesville possession of child pornography lawyer, you are likely under investigation or have been formally charged with a crime that will affect your liberty, reputation, and life moving forward. Contact an experienced lawyer with a track record of success who can provide reliable assistance.
About Us
The Criminal Defense Team of Baldwin Perry & Wiley P.C. practice law in Noblesville and across Hamilton County. The Criminal Defense Team has five Board-Certified* Criminal Trial Specialists, which are five of the only six in the state. While not all of our lawyers are Board-Certified,* but we have five of them who are.
You wouldn’t go to a general surgeon for brain surgery. You need someone who routinely does this kind of surgery. Likewise, you should hire a lawyer who exclusively handles these cases.
We have over 100 years of collective experience in criminal defense. Cases are assigned to multiple attorneys and a dedicated paralegal. These lawyers take the time to review hundreds of pages of forensic reports, analyze thousands of computer extraction files, and have the capacity to push back against massive amounts of discovery.
The firm even has a former prosecutor who tried serious felonies, including homicide, on staff to provide insight into how serious cases are built and prosecuted by the State. Our clients benefit from strategy sessions held within the firm and from our 24/7 lawyer-on-call system. We have a proven history of helping our clients to the most positive outcome possible with these complex cases. Reach out to learn more about us and how we can help.
What Is CSAM?
CSAM stands for Child Sexual Abuse Material. You will increasingly see this term used in place of child pornography. Indiana law makes it illegal to knowingly or intentionally possess, offer, display, advertise, distribute, publish, produce, or transfer child pornography. When convicted of possession of child pornography, the legal issues often turn on:
- Whether what the defendant possessed fits within the legal definition of proscribed material
- Whether the defendant knowingly possessed or exercised control over the material
- How the files came to be downloaded or accessed on the defendant’s computer or phone
- Whether law enforcement conducted searches and seizures in accordance with the U.S. and Indiana Constitutions
Forensic analysis of electronic devices typically plays a central role in understanding how certain files were downloaded, viewed, cached, or transferred.
In fiscal year 2024, child pornography accusations were reported in 1,375 out of 61,678 federal criminal cases in the United States. The fact that this category has grown by about 34.4% since fiscal year 2020 indicates that law enforcement activity is continually increasing.
Possession of Child Pornography Penalties
Possession of child pornography is usually charged as a Level 6 felony in Indiana. However, aggravating factors such as a large number of files on the defendant’s computer, previous convictions, or evidence of distribution can result in the charge being enhanced to a higher-level felony offense.
Penalties for possessing child pornography can involve jail time, probation, hefty fines, registration as a sex offender, and restrictions on internet use or contact with kids for years after release. The collateral consequences of a conviction can also affect future employment opportunities, professional licenses, housing options, and personal relationships.
That’s why law enforcement and prosecutors tend to pour a lot of resources into these cases, going so far as to obtain warrants for digital devices and to use special computer crime teams.
Understanding a Possession of Child Pornography Case
These cases often start with suspected online activity that comes to the attention of a federal or state task force. Police may acquire IP address records, subpoena individuals’ internet service providers for account information, and obtain search warrants for their homes and electronics.
Computers, thumb drives, smartphones, and cloud-based storage accounts can contain terabytes of digital information. Digital evidence is often introduced at trial through forensic lab reports numbering hundreds or even thousands of pages. These reports typically include summaries of file names, download histories, date stamps, and other metadata from electronic devices police seize from suspects.
Felony cases are usually heard in the Hamilton County Judicial Center in Noblesville. The accused usually face several court dates, beginning with bond hearings and discussions with their lawyers. Lawyers can file motions to suppress evidence if the searches were unlawful and consult with forensic professionals on how the digital evidence was preserved and reviewed.
Hire a Possession of Child Pornography Lawyer
You should consult with an attorney before giving your first statement to the police if you are under investigation for possession of CSAM or have already been charged. A CSAM attorney can review the search warrant, determine if your rights were violated during the investigation, and begin preserving defenses you may have.
Because of the volume of evidence police typically seize in these cases, a thorough review of the digital forensics by a qualified attorney is necessary. Few cases are decided based solely on computer file names or web history.
Our Approach
The Criminal Defense Team builds ironclad protection for our clients throughout Hamilton County, Indiana. For years, Noblesville locals routinely count on us for their criminal matters. The Hamilton County Judicial Center, 1 Hamilton County Square, Noblesville, IN 46060, is where the team processes cases.
Our lawyers can work with you to investigate the circumstances of your case and determine whether the State has enough evidence to prove you violated Indiana’s child pornography laws. Remember, the State has the burden to prove you knew about the material on your phone or computer, that you had control over the material, and that the evidence was obtained through lawful searches.
Contact The Criminal Defense Team
If you’re ready to hire a possession of child pornography, The Criminal Defense Team represents clients throughout Noblesville and Hamilton County charged with serious felony offenses. Our five Board-Certified* specialists and attorneys have over 100 years of experience focusing exclusively on complex criminal defense.
Each client’s case is staffed by at least two attorneys and a paralegal, so we give every possession of child pornography case the time and attention it deserves. From forensically reviewing police reports and digital searches to our strategy sessions and lawyer-on-call rotation, we have developed structured systems that allow us to respond quickly to your needs. Contact us today for a consultation.
*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.