{"id":15999,"date":"2019-07-17T10:45:32","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T17:45:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/?p=15999"},"modified":"2024-12-18T18:14:45","modified_gmt":"2024-12-19T01:14:45","slug":"exploitation-minor-az","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/blog\/exploitation-minor-az\/","title":{"rendered":"Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Laws in Arizona"},"content":{"rendered":"
Children are the most innocent and vulnerable victims of criminal activity. Crimes involving children can include emotional and physical abuse, neglect<\/a>, and exploitation, and these offenses can come with severe punishments. One of the most severe crimes against children is the sexual exploitation of a minor.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re accused of this crime, it\u2019s crucial that you understand the legal ramifications and potential defenses for the charge. This article will cover the exploitation of a minor and other crimes against children and the legal avenues available to someone who has been accused of this crime.<\/p>\n Sexual exploitation of a minor involves luring a minor (online or in person) for sexual exploitation purposes as well as possessing, distributing, or creating photos, videos, or other forms of child pornography<\/b>. The statute covering the exploitation of an underage person is very broad\u2014this means that there are many actions that can lead to a charge.<\/p>\n According to ARS 13-3553<\/a>, sexual exploitation of a minor includes:<\/p>\n In today\u2019s digital world, the internet also plays a big part in sexual exploitation of a minor charges. A wide range of online activities, even accidental ones, can qualify as exploitation of a minor in Arizona.<\/p>\n You may also receive a \u201cluring a minor for sexual exploitation\u201d conviction if you solicit<\/a> or offer sexual conduct with a person and believe or know that they\u2019re underage. If you\u2019re chatting online with a minor and you initiate sexual interaction, you may receive a charge and conviction for this behavior. Even if you\u2019re speaking with a police officer who is impersonating a minor, you can still potentially be convicted.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve been accused of child exploitation in Arizona, it\u2019s imperative that you speak with a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.<\/p>\n Sexual exploitation of a minor is a class 2 felony<\/a>, and each violation regarding sexual exploitation of a minor may come with a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison<\/b> according to Arizona law. This means that a single pornographic image of a minor may come with 10 years of prison time, and you could be considered a sex offender <\/a>for life.<\/p>\n Sometimes, you can receive multiple charges for one case based on how many images were involved. These charges are often stacked, meaning you may be facing more than one consecutive 10-year sentence for each image involved in the sexual exploitation. For example, possession of 7 images could result in a minimum of 70 years in prison if convicted.<\/p>\n Penalties may be more severe if the exploitation charges are part of additional charges. For example, a sexual exploitation of a minor charge is often grouped with some of the following charges:<\/p>\n The addition of any of these charges could result in even more extensive prison time or legal penalties. If you have been charged with any of these crimes, you should consult a skilled criminal defense attorney who can offer support in seeking reduced charges or minimized penalties.<\/p>\n The seriousness of the penalties for exploitation of a minor in Arizona will vary depending on how old the victims are. According to ARS 13-705<\/a>, if a victim is 14 years old or younger<\/b>, the crime will also count as a Dangerous Crime Against Children, which is a very severe offense. Crimes with \u201cDCAC\u201d designations come with much more severe penalties:<\/p>\n For Dangerous Crimes Against Children, the offender must serve their full prison sentence before the possibility of release. In other words, you may not carry out your penalties simultaneously, and they must be served consecutively.<\/p>\n There are a lot of potential defenses for an exploitation of a minor accusation if you have a skilled attorney on your side. In order to receive a conviction, you must have knowingly electronically received or transmitted, transported, purchased, sold, developed, duplicated, photographed, recorded or been in the possession of a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexual conduct. The prosecution must also be able to prove you knowingly committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.<\/p>\n The most common defenses include:<\/p>\n The best defense an attorney can use depends on the facts of each specific case<\/b> and the circumstances surrounding it. Depending on the case, one may be able to receive reduced charges, reduced penalties like alternative sentencing, or dismissed charges entirely.<\/p>\n If you are facing charges, you should consult a criminal defense attorney about what legal avenues are available to you and what steps you should take to defend against harsh charges based on your unique case.<\/p>\n Law enforcement plays an important part in combating the exploitation of minors. Between local law enforcement and special task forces designed to combat these crimes, there are multiple agencies working in tandem<\/b> to prevent these crimes from occurring.<\/p>\n Some of the agencies working together include:<\/p>\n The involvement of multiple law enforcement agencies often means that there is likely to be extensive evidence used against an individual accused of sexual exploitation. Someone accused of sexual exploitation of a minor may have a steep battle to climb in avoiding the harshest penalties under the law, emphasizing the need for a skilled criminal defense attorney.<\/p>\n Reporting exploitation is essential for ensuring that victims receive the necessary care and protection and ensuring restorative justice is served. To report suspected exploitation, you can call local law enforcement directly or report to a trusted individual who is trained on how to address these cases.<\/p>\n Valuable resources include:<\/p>\n Many private and public organizations also exist to end the perpetration of sexual violence against minors. The Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence is one organization that offers a more extensive resource list<\/a> for victims to utilize.<\/p>\n As with any crime, prevention and education remain one of the most important deterrents to the sexual exploitation of minors. This is especially important today with the internet and the increased risk of harmful interactions.<\/p>\n Prevention and education include:<\/p>\n Prevention and education should occur on both sides of the issue. It\u2019s important that minors understand how to protect themselves, but it\u2019s also important that perpetrators of these crimes have a pathway to restorative justice. Resources also exist for perpetrators looking to end their cycle of abuse, such as local violence anonymous meetings.<\/p>\n Sexual exploitation of a minor is a serious charge with harsh penalties. If someone accuses you of exploitation of a minor, it\u2019s imperative that you speak with a criminal defense attorney<\/a> as soon as possible. They can help you assess the situation and come up with the best plan of action for seeking reduced or dismissed charges along with reduced penalties.<\/p>\n Our criminal defense team at JacksonWhite Law has decades of experience in building a case for individuals facing harsh charges. During a free initial consultation, we\u2019ll take the time to understand the facts of your case so that we can build an appropriate defense in search of dismissed or reduced charges. We\u2019ll go above and beyond to support you in achieving the best possible outcome for your case.<\/p>\nWhat is Sexual Exploitation of a Minor?<\/h2>\n
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Legal Penalties for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor<\/h2>\n
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What Is Considered a \u201cDangerous Crime Against Children\u201d?<\/h2>\n
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Defenses for Exploitation of a Minor<\/h2>\n
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The Role of Law Enforcement in Combating Exploitation<\/h2>\n
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Reporting and Protecting Victims of Exploitation<\/h2>\n
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Prevention and Education<\/h2>\n
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Speak with a Legal Professional in Arizona<\/h2>\n