Child Pornography Investigations

When discussing criminal offenses, it is important to remember that there are tiers of offenses that a person can be charged with. There are crimes on the books in Florida that most people outside of the system believe should not be criminally punished at all. The majority of Floridians regardless of political orientation, for example, routinely poll that possession of cannabis should no longer be a criminal offense. Driving with a suspended license is widely and accurately considered to be a criminal offense that exists primarily to generate money for the state and to keep poor people in an endless loop of crime.

On the other hand, there are numerous offenses that are nearly universally accepted as necessary to punish offenders and to protect law abiding citizens from serious criminal offenders. Crimes like murder, aggravated assault, and sexual battery fall under this category. You would be hard pressed to find any support from the general public to legalize or decriminalize any of those types of offenses. Anyone charged with or investigated for an offense falling under any of those categories should not hesitate to reach out to a skilled Clearwater criminal defense lawyer to find out what defenses might be available.

A criminal offense that falls in between those described above is possession of child pornography. This is not to suggest that child pornography should be legalized or even decriminalized. However, unlike the violent offenses above, possession of child pornography very rarely involves direct harm to any person, and the vast majority of offenders arrested, charged and convicted for child pornography are nonviolent first time offenders. Often, those offenders have families and jobs that contribute to society. Child pornography offenses are similar to minor crimes like cannabis possession and suspended licenses because the punishments meted out are often far more serious than the crime demands.

Because so many child pornography offenders are also first time criminal offenders, they rarely have the sense to make good decisions once they come under investigation. Police investigating child pornography offenders know this and will often try to exploit their naivete to aid their investigations. Sometimes, officers will show up at an offenders home without a warrant and will attempt to gain the trust of the suspect. You should never trust police officers who are investigating you for a crime. They are more than likely just trying to collect evidence to help convict you. Instead, contact a dedicated Clearwater criminal defense lawyer to build your defense right away.

Child pornography investigations will typically begin with a search warrant. Once an internet service provider has identified a user who has viewed or downloaded child pornography, the ISP will notify law enforcement and give them access to the offender’s search records. The investigators will use that information to apply for a search warrant from a judge. Once the warrant is approved, the police will show up at the suspect’s home and typically seize any and all electronics that could potentially contain child pornography materials. Too often, suspects faced with the prospect of arrest for child pornography will give themselves up, cooperate with police and begin to answer their inquiries. This can be a grave mistake. Before ever speaking a word to the police, you should contact a lawyer to get involved and help to protect you against the investigation.

The attorneys at Hanlon Law are adept at heading off investigations for child pornography and sex based cases. We have decades of combined experience handling cases from investigation all the way through trial. Don’t ever try to handle such matters on your own, and don’t wait until you get arrested or receive a court date to speak to a lawyer. The quicker an attorney can get on your case, the quicker he or she can begin to make a difference. Call us today for a consultation at 727.897.5413.