Sexual Exploitation And Other Abuse Of Children

Federal Defense Attorneys Explain Sex Crimes Involving Children

Children are considered to be vulnerable individuals who are unable to give consent to sexual behavior. As such, there are strict laws in place preventing the exploitation or sexual abuse of children and imposing serious penalties upon any defendant who engages in misconduct with someone under the age of consent.

Defendants could be charged with a sex offense under state law, but sexual exploitation and abuse of children can also result in federal charges.

While state sex offense penalties are serious, being charged with a federal crime takes the stakes to a whole other level. Not only are the penalties typically much more serious if you are charged with a federal offense, but prosecutors and investigators on the federal level often have many more resources to devote to your case so they can prosecute you aggressively.

You need an advocate who can stand up to the system and help you to fight for your rights. LV Criminal Defense can help. Our federal sex crimes defense lawyers know the laws applicable to sexual exploitation and abuse of children, we understand what federal prosecutors need to prove to secure conviction, and we can help you to begin looking for ways to introduce reasonable doubt and get acquitted. We can also help you with the negotiation of a plea agreement in appropriate circumstances.

If you live in California, Arizona, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, or surrounding areas, our compassionate and knowledgeable legal team is here and ready to help you after accusations are made associated with sexual abuse and exploitation of children. To find out about the assistance our firm can offer, give us a call today.

Federal Criminal Laws on Sexual Exploitation and Other Abuse of Children

Federal laws on the sexual exploitation and other abuse of children can be found in 18 U.S. Code Chapter 110. There are a total of 21 different statutes within this Chapter. These statutes define different types of offenses, provide details on civil forfeiture and civil remedies, define words used within the chapter, and establish requirements aimed at preventing the abuse or exploitation of children.

The statutes found within 18 U.S. Code Chapter 110 that relate to sexual exploitation and abuse of children include:

• 18 U.S. Code section 2251 – Sexual exploitation of children
• 18 U.S. Code section 2251A – Selling or buying of children
• 18 U.S. Code section 2252 – Certain activities relating to material involving the sexual exploitation of minors
• 18 U.S. Code section 2252A – Certain activities relating to material constituting or containing child pornography
• 18 U.S. Code section 2252B – Misleading domain names on the Internet
• 18 U.S. Code section 2252C – Misleading words or digital images on the Internet
• 18 U.S. Code section 2253 – Criminal forfeiture
• 18 U.S. Code section 2254 – Civil forfeiture
• 18 U.S. Code section 2255 – Civil remedy for personal injuries
• 18 U.S. Code section 2256 – Definitions for chapter
• 18 U.S. Code section 2257 – Record keeping requirements
• 18 U.S. Code section 2257A – Record keeping requirements for simulated sexual conduct
• 18 U.S. Code section 2258 – Failure to report child abuse
• 18 U.S. Code section 2258A – Reporting requirements of electronic communication service providers and remote computing service providers
• 18 U.S. Code section 2258B – Limited liability for electronic communication service providers, remote computing service providers, or domain name registrar 11 So in original. Probably should be “registrars”.
• 18 U.S. Code section 2258C – Use to combat child pornography of technical elements relating to images reported to the CyberTipline
• 18 U.S. Code section 2258D – Limited liability for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
• 18 U.S. Code section 2258E – Definitions
• 18 U.S. Code section 2259 – Mandatory restitution
• 18 U.S. Code section 2260 – Production of sexually explicit depictions of a minor for importation into the United States
• 18 U.S. Code section 2260A – Penalties for registered sex offenders

Whichever offense you are charged with, these statutes will detail exactly what a prosecutor must prove to secure conviction. Each of the statutes is different, and if a prosecutor is unable to prove any element of a particular offense beyond a reasonable doubt, you should not be found guilty of a federal offense related to sexual abuse or exploitation.

You do not have to prove conclusively that you were innocent of the accusations against you to avoid a guilty verdict – the prosecutor has the burden of proof and you are innocent until proved guilty.

LV Criminal Defense can help you to cast doubt on the prosecutor’s evidence, thus maximizing the chances you will be able to avoid life-changing penalties. We can also help with getting prosecutors to recommend lighter sentences or even reduce charges if you are willing to admit to guilt if a plea deal is the best approach to take in your specific situation.

5 Star30 reviews