(810) 374-0240Michigan Child Pornography Attorneys
Child Pornography Charges are Serious. How Can Manley & Manley Help You?
It is no secret that being charged with any kind of crime related to child pornography is both terrifying and potentially life-ruining. Child pornography charges are one of the few criminal charges someone can receive where the charge itself has the potential to highly impact their lives. Children are some of the most important members of our society, and they should be fiercely protected. This protection is why child pornography charges are so serious because someone who is identified as a child predator quickly becomes shunned by society.
The criminal defense attorneys of Manley & Manley are experienced with fighting for people accused of a crime relating to child pornography. Our lawyers have over 100 years of combined criminal defense experience, and we are eager to put our pool of knowledge to work to prove your innocence.
Michigan, like most states, punishes these sex crimes with harsh penalties, which can include fines, imprisonment, and the required registration on the sex offender registry.
Don’t risk it; learn more about these crimes, the penalties they incur, and how Manley & Manley can help you!
How Does Michigan Define Child Pornography?
In order to understand child pornography laws, it is important to first understand how the state of Michigan defines these sex crimes.
Child pornography is a form of sexual exploitation involving a minor. It is important to know that explicit media of children is not protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution, meaning the possession of child pornography, the manufacturing of these materials, or the distribution of child pornography are not protected as free speech.
Michigan’s laws revolve around child sexually abusive material, which is any depiction, picture, video, AI-generated, or audio recording that involves a minor under the age of 18 engaging in sexual acts.
Child pornography is any material that depicts a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. There does not have to be actual penetration or contact between a minor and another minor or a minor with an adult for the material to be considered sexually abusive material. The material does not have to show an actual sexual act to be pornographic material. Even a computer-generated image that depicts a minor in a sexually abusive activity could see you charged with a child pornography offense.
Child pornography cases are aggressively pursued by local, state, and federal officials. A child pornography charge, not even a conviction, will change your life and often result in the loss of employment, harassment from your neighbors, and other social impacts.
What is a Mandatory Reporter?
Sometimes, the person who finds sexually abusive material is not an officer but a regular person just doing their job. Computer technicians, information technology workers, and other professionals who may come in contact with another person’s private data are required to report any suspicions of sexually explicit material that depicts what they believe to be minor to law enforcement.
Someone reporting such materials to law enforcement takes the first step in creating probable cause, which is also the first step in creating a warrant. Even though this may feel like an invasion of privacy, and it is not the usual way that law enforcement gets a warrant, it is perfectly legal.
You may even be a mandatory reporter for your career and not even know it.
What Penalties Do These Charges Incur?
Possessing child pornography, distributing child pornography, and manufacturing child pornography are all serious crimes that can result in prison time, fines, restitution, and mandatory registration with Michigan’s sex offender registry.
Possession of Child Pornography – Anyone who knowingly possesses or seeks and accesses child pornographic material.
(Felony)
- Up to 4 years in prison
- Up to $10,000 in fines
Distribution of Child Pornography – Anyone who distributes, promotes, or finances the distribution of child sexually abusive material.
(Felony)
- Up to 7 years in prison
- Up to $50,000 in fines
Production of Child Pornography – Anyone who persuades, induces, entices, coerces, causes, or knowingly allows a child to engage in child sexually abusive material.
- Up to 20 years in prison
- Up to $100,000 in fines.
A child pornography conviction, like most other convictions, can result in more severe criminal penalties if you are convicted more than once.
There are many long-lasting effects that can follow you if you are convicted of child pornography charges. It is easy to understand the weight of many years in prison and tens of thousands of dollars in fines and restitution, but there are negative ramifications that may follow you for the rest of your life if you are found guilty of such a crime.
Will You Have to Register as a Sex Offender?
Most convictions in Michigan will result in the offender having to register with Michigan’s sex offender registry (SOR). There are many complications that can arise from finding your name on the SOR. This information is public and damaging and can cause distress long after you have repaid your dues to society in the form of prison and fines.
Michigan has three different tiers for sex offenders. Each tier has years of requirements, including checking in person and registering information, as well as identifying and residing information.
The least severe tier, Tier I, will see an offender registered for 15 years and having to make in-person visits once a year. The most severe tier, Tier III, can see someone registered for the rest of their life and require them to make in-person visits up to four times a year.
While people on the sex offender registry are allowed to travel outside of their state and country, they will likely have to have the trip approved and be required to answer some prodding questions. They will not be allowed to make trips to certain destinations that are intended for children or families with children, such as amusement parks.
There are social impacts you could face if you are forced to register. Employers often do not want to employ someone who has to register as a sex offender, meaning that if you are applying for a new job, or your current employer runs a background check on you, and you have been convicted of a sex crime, you run the risk of being denied employment or losing your job.
Likewise, if you are trying to rent an apartment that requires a background check and you have been registered on the SOR, you likely won’t be approved. Even worse, because the SOR is public information, if you have a neighbor who finds out, you may be subjected to harassment, threats, or even violence.
Some professional licenses can be revoked after a felony conviction. This revocation means that your ability to provide for yourself or your family could be revoked, making your life that much harder.
With the penalties and having to register as a sex offender, you truly can not afford not to hire a Michigan child pornography lawyer to help fight your child pornography charges.
Do You Need an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney?
Usually, many organizations and government agencies are involved with finding, arresting, and charging child predators. These agencies can include local police, state-level government officials, and even federal agencies, such as the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
These stings can span in scope from individuals up to massive organizations that are involved with child pornography.
But sometimes they get it wrong.
That is why at Manley & Manley, we pride ourselves on our decades of combined experience fighting for what is right. Facing child pornography charges can make you feel like your life is over. You may lose your job, your house, and even your friends and family. Working with our team, we will work to build your case and get your charges dismissed or reduced.
Call 810-374-0240 to schedule your case evaluation, the first step in clearing your name. Our team understands Michigan’s child pornography laws and has a proven track record defending our clients!