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New Jersey Child Pornography Charges Defense Lawyers

Veteran Criminal Defense Lawyers Represent Clients Accused of Child Pornography in Essex County, Union County, Morris County, Middlesex County, Bergen County and Somerset County, NJ

Accusations that you have been involved in any way with child pornography can damage your personal relationships in an instant, destroy your reputation in the community and result in serious jail time and penalties.  The penalties are so severe because of how important it is to protect children, meaning that cases involving child pornography are delicate, almost always involving heightened emotions and strong feelings, even on the part of those involved in prosecuting your case.  Even if your computer or files have only been seized by the police without a formal child pornography charge, it is important to contact an experienced and reputable criminal defense lawyer who can help you understand potential outcomes and begin formulating a case in your defense at the earliest possible stage.

At Zegas Law, our experienced defense lawyers believe that every one of our clients is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt—and we will fight to challenge the state’s case every step of the way.  We understand that you may be handling a difficult range of emotions, which is why we believe it is so important that you retain a skilled, experienced and aggressive defense lawyer to challenge the child pornography charges levied against you and provide non-judgmental support throughout the entire criminal process.  We have the substantial experience handling high-profile, difficult cases that is necessary to ensure the best possible outcome in your case, so call or contact our office today to see how we can help.

North Jersey Child Pornography Legal Framework

In New Jersey, it is essentially illegally to have anything to do with child pornography—which means you can be arrested for child pornography for possessing, viewing, distributing, manufacturing or permitting the creation of child pornography.  “Child pornography” itself is essentially any type of image—whether still or video—that depicts a child engaging in sexual activity, whether actual or simulated, such as intercourse, masturbation, nudity oral sex or other sex act. Child pornography charges can be prosecuted as:

  • Third-degree felonies.  Mere possession of child pornography, without more, is punishable as a third-degree crime in New Jersey, meaning that you will face up to five years in jail if convicted (and jail time will be mandatory if more than 100 images are involved).
  • Second-degree felonies.  Distributing child pornography is a second-degree offense, meaning that you will face between five and ten years in jail if convicted—and a presumption of incarceration applies in these cases.
  • First-degree felonies.  The actual creation of child pornography—or allowing a child to engage in child pornography—may be punished as a first-degree crime carrying a potential 20-year prison sentence and upwards of $200,000 in fines.

In particularly serious cases, child pornography conviction can also result in lifelong registration requirements under Megan’s Law, lifetime supervised parole and a period of parole ineligibility.  Even in cases involving third-degree offenses, where pre-trial intervention might otherwise be available for first offenders, the prosecution is likely to vigorously challenge admission to the program in lieu of prosecution.

Defense Lawyers Committed to Providing Intelligent Guidance for Clients Accused of Child Pornography Involvement

Because of the heightened emotions involved in child pornography cases, the prosecution may tend to look past the relevant facts and circumstances that could mitigate the charge or exonerate you completely—making it extremely important that you choose a strong defense lawyer to protect your rights.  Although sensitive, it is completely possible to build a strong defense against child pornography charges, including challenging whether the purpose of the images was to provide sexual gratification to the viewer at all. While the state can continue to prosecute the case even if no one viewed the images, this fact can also provide strong mitigating evidence in the defendant’s favor.

At Zegas Law, we work tirelessly in analyzing every piece of evidence in your case to build the strongest defense strategy possible and provide intelligent, pragmatic advice to our clients.  We know that your freedom and reputation are at stake, and we keep you apprised of your case progress and options throughout the entire process.

Call Our Seasoned Defense Lawyers for a Confidential Consultation if You Have Been Accused of Any Crime Involving Child Pornography in North Jersey

If you or a loved one have been accused of a crime involving child pornography, it is easy to believe that the situation is hopeless because of the stigma attached to the crime.  Our experienced Morris County child pornography defense lawyers are here to reassure you that this is not the case. We are committed to building a strong and effective defense for every one of our clients, and we have the legal knowledge to help in your case.  To schedule a completely confidential consultation with our skilled lawyers, call our office or fill out this secure online contact form today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Child Pornography Charges

FAQ: Can you defend child pornography charges because the defendant reasonably believed that the child was over age 18? 

No.  Even if the child would have appeared to be an adult to a reasonable person, the prosecution can proceed with child pornography charges and obtain a conviction—much like the statutory rape offense, it is not necessary that you actually knew the child’s age.

FAQ: Can my child be prosecuted for child pornography if he or she texted sexual images to another child and both were under 18?

Yes.  New Jersey takes child pornography extremely seriously, meaning that it may be possible to face prosecution on child pornography charges even if the defendant was also a minor.  In some of these “sexting” cases, however, the courts have authority to recommend completion of an educational program designed to inform young people about potential issues surrounding texting sexual images and the penalties that can apply if they are ever caught again.  Successful completion of the educational program can allow the minor to avoid prosecution.

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