St. Louis Child Pornography Defense Attorney

Aggressive Defense for Sex Crime Allegations in Missouri - Call (314) 334-3807

A defendant who is facing charges of child pornography could be subject to harsh punishment if convicted, including steep fines and stiff prison sentences. Under Missouri state law, a conviction of child pornography could mean punishments equivalent to that of a Class A felony. In federal cases, the penalties for child pornography can be extremely severe.

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Child Pornography Crimes

The Missouri Revised Statute §573.010 defines child pornography as any obscene material depicting sexual conduct, contact, or performance, including a minor under the age of 18 as a participant or portrayed observer of the material.

The following crimes may be prosecuted as a child pornography offense:

Sexual Exploitation of a Minor - Filming, photographing, or being involved in any part of the creation process of child pornography.
Promoting child pornography - Distributing or selling child pornography to an adult; or, promoting adult pornography to a minor.
Possessing child pornography - Having child pornography in your possession, regardless of the quantity or form (digital, physical, etc).

Penalties for a Child Pornography Conviction

The penalties for a child pornography conviction depend on the severity of the offense and the age of the child involved.

Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

An individual facing the charge of sexual exploitation may be convicted of a Class B felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
If the child involved was under the age of 14, a conviction would be categorized as a Class A felony, carrying a minimum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Promotion of Child Pornography

The promotion of child pornography to an adult may be classified as a Class C felony, punishable by up to 7 years imprisonment and fines.
If the defendant knowingly promotes child pornography to a minor, or promotes obscene material of a child under the age of 14, the offense may be increased to a Class B felony, which is punishable by 5-15 years in prison.
Wholesale promotion of child pornography, or promoting child pornography to a minor if the defendant has a previous conviction for child pornography is a Class D felony and carries penalties of up to 4 years imprisonment and fines.

Possession of Child Pornography

Both intentional and unintentional possession of child pornography is punishable under Missouri state law as a Class C felony. The offense is punishable by up to 7 years in prison unless the minor depicted in the material was under the age of 14, or the defendant possed more than 200 images, in which case the crime would be considered a Class B felony.

Registration as a Sex Offender

Conviction of a sex crime involving a child comes with additional ramifications that may follow the individual for the rest of his or her life. The state of Missouri requires all individuals who are convicted of the sexual exploitation of a minor to enroll with the state's sex offender registry. The registry is a public list intended to inform the public of possible sexual predators in the community. As such, anyone facing these allegations should be intent on working with a skilled attorney capable of protecting their future.

Review our Case Results to see how we’ve helped past clients fight their child pornography charges.

Choosing The Hammer Law Firm, LLC

At The Hammer Law Firm, LLC, our criminal lawyers are equipped with the skills required to present a solid defense on behalf of clients facing sex crimes charges. We are passionate about defending the rights and interests of our clients regardless of the charges they are facing and we want to do the same for you. Contact our Missouri child pornography defense attorneys today at (314) 334-3807.