Regardless of the way in which child pornography is distributed, it is considered to be a grave criminal offense under Arizona and Federal law. The Internet has become one of the primary vehicles used by sex offenders to distribute child pornography. Therefore, authorities have started to focus in on online chat rooms to look for people distributing child pornography and monitor suspicious activity.
According to ARS 13-3553 an individual can be found guilty of ‘sexual exploitation of a minor’ if they knowingly:
- Record, film, photograph, develop or duplicate any visual depiction of a minor engaged in exploitive exhibition or other form of sexual conduct;
- Distribute, transport, exhibit, receive, sell, purchase, electronically transmit, possess or exchange a visual depiction of a minor engaged in exploitive exhibition or other form of sexual conduct.
If you think that you might be under investigation, or if you have been charged with exploitation of a minor in Arizona, I would encourage you to speak with a sex crimes attorney from JacksonWhite. Not only are you going to need someone who is well-versed in defending these types of crimes, you also need an attorney who will fight to make sure that you do not receive excessive punishment. Each case is vastly different, so it is critical that you retain an attorney who will listen to your side of the story and maintain a sense of confidentiality and sensitivity when handling your case.
For more information or to schedule a free, confidential consultation with myself – sex crimes attorney, Jeremy Geigle – please call me on my direct line at (480)-818-9943. I can consult with clients at any one of my office locations throughout the Phoenix metro area, including Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Scottsdale, Phoenix and Peoria.