Glen Burnie Child Pornography Lawyer

Glen Burnie Child Pornography Attorney

If you have been charged with possession or distribution of child pornography, you may be facing state and federal charges, and your first call should be to a compassionate and experienced Glen Burnie child pornography attorney. It is critical that your attorney has experience in federal court. An attorney can defend you effectively.

About The Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA

Our legal team at The Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA, has a great deal of experience dealing with delicate and intricate criminal situations. We are dedicated to offering a sympathetic and strong defense because we recognize the seriousness of child pornography accusations. Our staff can provide knowledgeable and efficient representation because they are familiar with Maryland’s child pornography laws, local courts, and legal systems.

We review every detail of the investigation and all available digital evidence to build defense strategies tailored to each client. Our lawyers identify constitutional violations and procedural errors, and when necessary, we work with forensic experts to dispute evidence. If possible, we can negotiate plea deals or prepare for trial to protect your interests.

Rest assured, our attorneys are familiar with local prosecutors and the court system in Anne Arundel County. Attorney Todd K. Mohink regularly defends clients against state and federal child pornography charges. He understands federal court regulations and procedures. You can count on his experience as a skilled negotiator and aggressive trial lawyer. Give us a call to hear how we can help.

Building a Strong Defense

In 2024, the FBI reported 4,472 Internet crimes against children, including child pornography. The State of Maryland reported 1,038 pornography offenses, as well, also including child pornography. Law enforcement agencies in Maryland and across the country are aggressively prosecuting child pornography and other internet sex crimes.

In their rush to make arrests, police sometimes make mistakes. If you were lured into a conversation in a chat room by an officer pretending to be a minor, we may be able to argue that the police used entrapment.

Digital evidence, including computers, phones, and cloud storage, typically plays a major role in these charges. As your lawyers, we can help establish the truth behind any images stored on your computer. If you did not intentionally download the content or if someone else had access to your computer, we may be able to use this as a defense.

Of note, both state and federal agencies may investigate your case. While Glen Burnie cases typically fall under the Anne Arundel County court system, they may also attract federal attention due to the nature of the allegations. Since federal consequences are typically harsher, we often fight to keep your cases out of the federal courts.

Child Pornography Charges We Defend Against in Glen Burnie

There are many different types of charges related to child pornography. We defend against them all, including:

• Possession: Child pornography possession charges often involve images found on laptops, in cloud accounts, or on phones.
• Receipt: The receipt of child pornography can include auto-downloading and syncing scenarios.
• Distribution: If you’ve shared child pornography via any channel, including messaging apps and peer-to-peer platforms, you could be charged with distribution.
• Production: Child pornography production charges are rare, but they’re extremely serious.
• Related internet sex crimes: Child pornography charges often come with associated internet sex crime charges, as well. We can also defend you against these.

If the police exercised an unlawful search or seizure of your laptop or other digital device, leading to the discovery of child pornography, we may be able to use that in your favor. Otherwise, we will come up with another effective defense strategy.

Potential Penalties for Child Pornography Charges

The penalties you may face will vary depending on not just the nature of the crime you’ve been accused of committing but also whether you’re facing state or federal charges. If you’re facing state charges for possession, you could face the following penalties under Maryland Statute 11-208:

• Up to five years in prison for a first conviction
• Up to $2,500 in fines for a first conviction
• Up to 10 years in prison for a subsequent conviction
• Up to $10,000 in fines for a subsequent conviction

For production or distribution, covered under Maryland Statute 11-207, you could face:

• Up to 10 years in prison for a first conviction
• Up to $25,000 in fines for a first conviction
• Up to 20 years in prison for a subsequent conviction
• Up to $50,000 in fines for a subsequent conviction

The actual sentence you face will depend on your criminal history, the nature of the allegations, and the number of discrete crimes you’re being accused of committing.

State charges for child pornography are serious, and the potential punishments are harsh. However, the penalties for federal child pornography charges are even more severe. They include:

• A minimum of 15 and a maximum of 30 years for a first-time child pornography production charge
• A minimum of five and a maximum of 20 years for a first-time child pornography transportation charge

Offenders will face more substantial penalties if any of these aggravated circumstances apply:

• The images are violent in nature.
• The minor was sexually abused.
• The offender has prior convictions for any form of child sexual exploitation.

At this point, defendants can face up to life in prison. It’s also relevant to note that defendants can be prosecuted under both state and federal law, potentially increasing prison sentences and fines substantially. You’ll be more likely to face federal charges if you are accused of transporting child pornography across state lines or via the internet. You’re less likely to face federal charges for simple possession.

Why the Stakes Are High

Your attorney fights to beat your charges, but if that’s not possible, they can help minimize the negative consequences of a conviction. Depending upon your charges, you could face a variety of penalties, including a long prison sentence, serious fines, and mandatory registration on Maryland’s sex offender registry. A conviction or even an investigation may impact your career, family, and reputation. Contact a lawyer to coordinate a strong defense strategy.

Juveniles May Be Charged Too

Adults are not the only people at risk of child porn charges. Juveniles may be charged with possessing or distributing child pornography if they are caught texting, sexting, or using e-mail or social media to distribute sexual content or images of minors.

They can be charged even if the messages or images are sent between consenting underage partners. Just receiving sexual messages/images via text, e-mail, or social media can result in an arrest if it is reported to the police.

Because use of the Internet or cellphones to commit a crime can be charged as wire fraud, Internet pornography and sexting cases may include federal charges. We have the federal defense experience necessary to protect your rights in these cases.

FAQs About Glen Burnie, MD Child Pornography Law

What Is the Federal Anti-Child Pornography Act?

The federal Anti-Child Pornography Act prohibits creating, receiving, distributing, or possessing child pornography. The purpose of this legislation was to ban the use of digital technology to commit pornographic crimes involving minors. Maryland has similar legislation that’s also designed to shield our children from child pornography. For reliable additional information, reach out to a knowledgeable attorney licensed in our state.

Is Child Pornography Always Considered a Crime in Maryland?

Yes, child pornography is always considered a crime in Maryland under current state law. However, pornography among consenting adults is considered legal. There are some nuances to these laws that are worth discussing with an attorney if you have questions or if you’ve been charged with a crime involving child pornography. Contact our office right away for reliable legal advice.

How Do Glen Burnie Child Pornography Cases Typically Start?

Glen Burnie child pornography cases start in a variety of ways, including following reporting to federal or state authorities, or from information given to the CyberTipline/ISP national reporting line. The Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit is involved in many investigations and may investigate dark web content, storage on a cloud server, IP logs, metadata, social media, messaging apps, and shared devices. Contact an attorney right away to help ensure that electronic evidence isn’t used inappropriately against you.

When Do Child Pornography Investigations Begin?

Child pornography investigations typically begin when Maryland law enforcement starts an investigation. They begin with conducting forensic imaging, monitoring file-sharing networks, and tracking IP addresses. If you are the subject of an investigation, call an attorney who can challenge warrants, protect access to your devices, and determine the reliability of digital evidence. Your attorney can also ensure the Anne Arundel County Police Department is appropriately coordinating with federal agencies.

Hire a Child Pornography Lawyer for an Effective Sex Crimes Defense

When you are facing child porn charges and your reputation and career are on the line, turn to us to hire a child pornography lawyer. The Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA, offers free consultations at both our locations—in Glen Burnie and Columbia. Contact us to reach our experienced, knowledgeable, and highly skilled Glen Burnie child pornography lawyer.