Child Pornography in Shelby County

Law enforcement officials in Shelby County take allegations of sex crimes seriously, especially when children could be involved. Federal, state, and local agencies may work together to find and prosecute those suspected of activities related to child pornography and other sex crimes.

If you are facing charges involving child pornography, you may need to have equally experienced legal representation to fight for your rights. Child pornography charges can negatively impact you for the rest of your life, but there are defenses that can be used to successfully fight the charges depending on the circumstances.

Those accused of offenses involving child pornography should strongly consider consulting with a Shelby County child pornography lawyer to learn about the implications of their charges and options for the defense that could bring about the best possible outcome.

Shelby County observes numerous provisions regarding sex crimes, including several related to child pornography. Under Alabama’s Child Pornography Act, individuals may be charged with many different offenses related to child pornography including:

• Code §13A-12-191 – Displaying publicly or disseminating pornographic material involving minors
• Code §13A-12-192 – Possession of such material
• Code §13A-12-192 – Possession with intent to disseminate
• Code §13A-12-196 – Permitting a child to participate in the creation of pornographic material
• Code §13A-12-198 – Recording or producing pornographic material involving minors

Additional laws prohibit acts such as the transmission of obscene material to a child by computer, the exporting or importing of child pornography, and buying or selling a minor for the purposes of creating pornographic material. For more information regarding child pornography charges, call a seasoned attorney.

Child pornography is broadly defined in Shelby County. The laws prohibit possession, creation, and other actions involving obscene materials that contain a picture or any representation of a minor under the age of 17 exposing nude breasts or genitals or engaging in any act of sadomasochistic abuse, sexual intercourse, sexual excitement, [or] masturbation.

Ala. Code §13A-12-190 defines obscene matter as that which lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. Under these broad definitions, a photo of a baby in a bathtub could arguably be treated as child pornography, depending on the context and other related elements. This is why it is essential for someone who is facing charges to have a Shelby County child pornography lawyer who can help the defense by attacking the broad definitions of obscenity.

Due to heightened concerns for the safety of children, lawmakers have established severe penalties for offenses involving material regarded as pornographic when such material includes depictions of minors under the age of 17.

Possession of child pornography is treated as a Class C felony in Shelby County, while possession with intent to disseminate is considered a Class B felony. The law presumes an individual has the intent to disseminate the material if three or more copies of the same picture are found in that individual’s possession.

Public display or dissemination of child pornography is also a Class B felony. Furthermore, when parents or guardians knowingly permit a minor to participate in the production of pornographic material, or when anyone engages in the production of such material, they are committing a Class A felony.

The penalties for these offenses include the potential for lengthy terms of imprisonment, thousands of dollars in fines, and registry as a sex offender.

Crimes involving child pornography are among the most serious charges possible in Shelby County. With such severe potential penalties, it could be very important to avoid taking actions or making statements that could be taken out of context or used to jeopardize your rights.

When you work with a Shelby County child pornography lawyer who understands how local courts handle these cases, you could be taking the most effective action to secure your rights and your future. Call today to learn how a seasoned attorney could help you work toward the best possible resolution of your case.