Sexual Exploitation of a Child Lawyer | Teen Distributes Own Video

Sexual exploitation of a child is an offense that includes creating, possessing, or distributing child pornography. Significant criminal charges can result from doing any of the above in Douglas County, Colorado that involves someone under the age of 18. A recent story in national news describes a situation where a 16-year-old girl was charged for distributing child pornography after texting a video of herself performing oral sex. Can a teenager be both the pornographer and the victim in a case like this? Accusations or charges of this nature require representation from a skilled sexual exploitation of a child lawyer.

What is Sexual Exploitation of a Child in Colorado?

C.R.S. 18-6-403 describes the conduct of Sexual Exploitation of a Child in Douglas County and throughout Colorado. Someone commits this offense in Castle Rock, Parker, or Highlands Ranch if they:

possess sexually explicit material involving a minor under 18 engaged in intercourse, oral sex, erotic fondling, erotic nudity, or masturbation,
or contribute to creating or distributing this material

In the case above, the teenager girl allegedly possessed the video of her performing oral sex on her smartphone and distributed the video to two friends via text message. Other potential criminal activity could apply to the person who took the video and anyone else that sent the recording to others. In an age where so much media and information is sent from smartphones, both adults and children clearly walk a fine line when it comes to sex crimes.

Is Sexual Exploitation a Felony in Douglas County?

Sexual exploitation of a child is a felony offense in the state of Colorado and can range from a class 5 to a class 3 depending on specific circumstances. Potential ramifications of conviction for adults can include:

1 – 12 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections,
fines of up to $750,000,
sex offender intensive supervised probation,
sex offender treatment,
Colorado sex offender registration

After serving a period of incarceration, the limitations placed on a registered sex offender are particularly difficult to manage. Everything from where you go to who you interact with requires approval from a supervision team. Maintaining stable employment and finding adequate housing can become significant challenges for sex offenders.

Douglas County Lawyer for Child Pornography Charges

Accusations surrounding child pornography are especially serious and require experienced legal help. Contacting a sexual exploitation of a child lawyer early on can have a positive impact on the outcome of a case. Time is of the essence and evidence exists that must be carefully analyzed by a skilled sex crimes lawyer. Perhaps you didn’t know the material was on your phone or the pictures / videos were innocent displays of affection. Nonetheless, contact our office for a free consultation with Douglas County’s best criminal defense attorneys.