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With selfies that involve underage sexual situations or nudity, the potential exists for criminal liability under child pornography laws. Penalties in Arizona for sexual exploitation of a minor are some of the toughest in the nation. If you are facing criminal charges involving child pornography and selfies, contact AZ Defenders immediately. Our Phoenix child pornography and selfies attorneys pride ourselves on finding weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and using every available defense to obtain the best possible outcome for our clients.
Child pornography is an incredibly serious charge in Arizona that could come with life-altering consequences. If you are convicted of this crime for taking or receiving explicit selfies of a minor, you could be facing a prison sentence among other serious penalties. The most effective way to protect yourself and your future is by hiring an experienced and reputable criminal defense attorney in Phoenix to represent you.
Hiring a child pornography defense lawyer could come with many benefits, including:
AZ Defenders is a trusted and reputable source of top-tier criminal defense in Phoenix and throughout Arizona. We have achieved outstanding results for past clients who were facing even the most serious and complicated criminal charges. Our team of attorneys and support staff will work tirelessly to pursue positive case results on your behalf as our client. We offer free initial case consultations 24/7 for you to speak to a child pornography criminal defense lawyer about your particular situation at no charge.
Most people are familiar with selfies – photos of oneself typically taken with a smartphone. Child pornography may be defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. Pornographic selfies of minors are not protected under the Constitution. They are considered internet sex crimes and a type of child sexual exploitation. Offenses involving the internet or occurring across state lines may be prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice. A person may face criminal liability under both state and federal laws.
Under Arizona Revised Statutes Section 13-3553, sexual exploitation of a minor is a class two felony. This offense involves knowingly recording, filming, photographing, developing, duplicating, distributing, transporting, exhibiting, receiving, selling, purchasing, electronically transmitting, exchanging, or possessing any visual depiction (including selfies) in which a minor is engaged in exploitive exhibition or sexual conduct. If the defendant is 18 or older and tried as an adult, and the exploited minor is under the age of 15, this crime is punishable pursuant to Section 13-705, which deals with sentencing for dangerous crimes against children and means prison time if convicted.
Although state child pornography laws were designed to protect children and minors, it is not only adults who can be charged with a crime for violations of the statutes. If a teenager takes a pornographic selfie and sends it to another underage friend, both the sender and the receiver may be prosecuted. If the selfie makes the rounds of the underage social circle online or through direct sharing, anyone who distributed or received the photo may be subject to prosecution under laws related to juvenile crimes.
The Arizona statute concerning sexual exploitation of a minor is very broad and covers a wide range of potentially innocent conduct. Our state has some of the stiffest penalties in the U.S. for child pornography and selfies. Adult conviction of possessing an image of a sexual act with a minor carries severe penalties, including:
Sexual exploitation of a minor is a Class 2 Felony if the minor is under the age of 15, which can result in 10 to 24 years imprisonment under Section 13-705 of the law. This is per count, meaning the sentence can be doubled or tripled for multiple counts. The severe potential penalties for a child porn conviction are why you need to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.
Do not assume that a conviction is certain if you have been arrested for child pornography in Phoenix, Arizona. Cases involving nude or explicit selfies are complicated. With the right attorney, you can craft a solid defense strategy that aims to protect you from the worst possible outcome of your case. At AZ Defenders, while we do not guarantee results, we do promise to defend your rights as aggressively as we can throughout the legal process as your attorneys.
Although each case is unique, potential defenses to this charge include:
At AZ Defenders, we do not simply push all of our clients to plead no contest or accept plea deals. Instead, we tailor our defense strategies for each unique case and client for optimal results every time. Depending on your situation, we may seek case dismissal, a plea deal for reduced charges and penalties, or an acquittal at trial. As your lawyers, you can count on us to work passionately and relentlessly on your case for the best possible outcome.
Sending, receiving, or possessing a sexually explicit selfie or picture of a minor can expose you to serious criminal liability. If you have been charged with child pornography involving selfies, call AZ Defenders right away for a free consultation. We have a history of successfully defending clients in the criminal justice system.