Federal Child Pornography Charges in Akron, OH

Facing federal child pornography charges in Akron, OH, can be stressful and frightening. With strict penalties and social stigma, working with an Akron child pornography lawyer to defend against these charges is essential to protect your rights and your future opportunities. 

Child Pornography Charges 

In 2024, 49 people in Ohio were sentenced for child pornography charges. Child pornography could include material, such as images, videos, film, and other methods of displaying explicit content. 

Material that shows a minor under 18 years old nude or participating in any type of sexual activity is illegal. If you have a connection to this material, whether by creating, transferring, or publishing it, you may face serious charges. According to federal child pornography laws, these charges are classified as a felony. However, it can vary in the degree depending on your relationship with the material and other circumstances of the offense. 

A federal child pornography case includes cases involving multiple states or countries. This can include buying or distributing child pornography across state lines. It can also include attempting to distribute pornography into the U.S. or leaving the U.S. to produce and bring back child pornography. Given modern online channels, it is not uncommon for a child pornography charge to involve multiple states or countries. 

How a Child Pornography Conviction Can Impact Your Life

Prison is one of the most severe consequences, with the average term length of 115 months for child pornography. Federal child pornography penalties can include between 15 and 30 years in prison. If the offense was particularly serious or abusive towards the child, it is punishable by between 25 and 50 years in prison. Two or more previous child pornography convictions increase the term length to 35 years to life in prison. 

Other than long prison sentences, a child pornography conviction can impact your:

• Relationships. A child pornography offense leads to mandatory registration as a sex offender, which is visible to the public, leading to social stigma. Additionally, a conviction can negatively impact a child custody case, which may limit your custody or visitation rights.  
• Financial situation. One consequence of a conviction is fines, which often reach thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. Paying the heavy fines while facing other challenges, such as employment limitations due to your conviction, can be extremely challenging.  
• Future opportunities. Having a permanent criminal record and being marked as a sex offender can make it difficult to rebuild your life. It can limit your employment opportunities, make it difficult to find an apartment or apply for a loan, and prevent you from attaining certain professional licenses. 
• Freedom. Probation, treatment programs, or parole all place limitations on your freedom. You must follow strict terms to avoid additional penalties, which could include having to submit to computer monitoring, complete drug testing, and consistently meet with an officer about your behavior. 

Why You Should Hire a Federal Child Pornography Lawyer

Federal child pornography charges are some of the most serious charges you can face. Working with an Akron federal child pornography attorney can lead to outcomes such as not-guilty verdicts, dismissed charges, or reduced penalties. 

A lawyer can help you by:

• Protecting your rights during an investigation. Having an Akron criminal defense lawyer present after an arrest can protect your right against self-incrimination and unlawful search and seizure by communicating on your behalf and advising you on what to do.  
• Analyzing evidence. A lawyer can examine the evidence used against you to develop a defense strategy and file a motion to keep unlawfully obtained evidence out of trial. 
• Determining a defense strategy. By examining the details of your case, your lawyer can identify a strategy that can lead to not-guilty verdicts or lowered consequences.
• Negotiating on your behalf. A lawyer can negotiate for plea deals or alternative sentencing options to support your future after child pornography charges. 

FAQs

What Are Aggravating Factors in a Child Pornography Case?

Aggravating factors are circumstances or details in a child pornography case that increase the severity of the charges and penalties. In a child pornography case, aggravating factors could include that the minor was sexually abused, the images were violent or sadistic, or the offender has prior child pornography convictions. 

What Are the Differences Between Ohio and Federal Child Pornography Charges?

Whether a child pornography charge is an Ohio or federal case depends on whether state or federal laws were broken, leading to differences in the legal process and potential penalties. Generally, federal offenses involve child pornography cases that involve multiple states or international material, whereas state charges do not. No matter if you have federal or Ohio charges, hire an Akron federal criminal defense lawyer to defend your rights and mitigate the consequences. 

Is Child Pornography Protected by First Amendment Rights?

No, child pornography is not protected by First Amendment rights. While the First Amendment protects freedom of expression and covers many forms of art, images, and videos, child pornography is illegal due to its inappropriateness and the extreme harm it can cause to a child’s safety and development. 

Is It Illegal to Record Someone Without Their Consent?

While it may be legal to record someone without their consent in a public space in Ohio, this rule does not apply to explicit content, especially in child pornography cases. In your private residence, surveillance videos should not be used in locations where someone would be undressed, and they also cannot be used to create child pornography.   

Reach Out to DiCaudo, Pitchford & Yoder for Assistance

With 50 years of experience, the attorneys at DiCaudo, Pitchford & Yoder have helped many individuals face serious criminal charges. With knowledge of the federal child pornography laws, we can build a defense strategy tailored to your case. We work to achieve a dismissal by challenging illegal evidence collection strategies, preventing the strict penalties these cases can have. A federal child pornography case is legally complex, requiring knowledge of the federal criminal process and attention to every detail of a case. An Akron federal child pornography attorney can help you navigate this process and minimize the negative consequences of a conviction. Contact DiCaudo, Pitchford & Yoder today to learn more about federal child pornography charges in Akron, OH.