Experienced Defense Attorney for Child Pornography Charges
Pennsylvania Child Pornography Lawyer
Fighting for Your Freedom, Reputation and Future – Pittsburgh Child Pornography Defense
Pennsylvania and federal law enforcement agencies have become exceptionally vigilant in pursuing child pornography charges resulting in many innocent people get swept up by overzealous law enforcement agents. The massive growth of the Internet has resulted in police officers and federal agents conducting sting operations or surveillance or seizures without a sufficient legal basis.
Prosecutors of Pennsylvania child pornography crimes and federal agents use state of the art technology to access addresses of those who have viewed pornography. Although Pennsylvania and federal prosecutors take child pornography charges very seriously, there are many potential defenses to these serious charges. Even unsubstantiated allegation regarding child pornography can do enormous damage to one’s reputation and occupation. A conviction on child pornography charges in Pennsylvania can have very serious long-term consequences including incarceration, substantial fines, probation, registration as a sex offender, disqualification from certain types of employment and geographic limitations on where you live and visit.
Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney Michael V. Worgul has successfully represented hundreds of people throughout Allegheny County and the surrounding area faced with serious criminal charges including child pornography charges. Pennsylvania and federal child pornography law prohibits the production, distribution, trafficking, possession or storing of child pornography, which is an Internet crime when a computer is used. Federal and state law defines a child for purpose of child pornography as someone under the age of 18. While a state or federal conviction for child pornography is extremely serious, federal penalties are especially severe and may result in a 5-year prison term for transmission of a single prohibited image over the Internet.
Child pornography under Pennsylvania or federal law may include a variety of activities including:
- Surfing websites containing someone under 18 engaged in sex acts
- The creation of videos, computer images or pictures of someone under 18 engaged in sex acts
- Storing and downloading images depicting a person under 18 engaged in sex acts
- Intentionally viewing or knowingly possessing material containing depictions of a person under 18 engaged in sexual acts
Contact Pittsburgh Lawyer Michael V. Worgul now at (412) 475-9217 or 1-855-DUI-CRIM to schedule a consultation at no charge to you.
Prosecutors at both the state and federal level are becoming increasingly aggressive about pursuing child pornography charges. In certain cases, teenagers sharing semi-naked images with a boyfriend or girlfriend (sexting) has resulted in the both parties and anyone they share the images with facing child pornography charges effectively turning the intended protected class into an alleged perpetrator.
While anyone charged with child pornography in Pennsylvania faces extremely serious consequences if they are convicted, Michael V. Worgul has successfully defended clients against these serious charges preserving their freedom and protecting their reputation. There are many defenses that may be available including lack of probable cause to seize or search your computer hard drive, Miranda warning violations or entrapment by overzealous law enforcement agents. Sometimes pornographic images are part of bulk downloads so that the recipient is not even aware the file was downloaded. Even if you attempt to delete such files immediately, law enforcement has the technology to search and find these deleted files.
Because police and federal agents know that there are many defenses to child pornography charges, including not knowing the image was downloaded or that the image was downloaded by someone else using the computer, they will try to persuade you to cooperate. It is imperative that you declined to talk to the police or federal agents and invoke your right to have an attorney present. Law enforcement officers are not after some abstract search for “the truth”, rather they are developing evidence that can be used to convict you and deprive you of your freedom. If you or a family member is arrested on Pennsylvania child pornography charges or the federal equivalent, Michael V. Worgul is prepared to fight for your freedom, reputation and future. Our Pittsburgh child pornography defense law firm offers a free initial case evaluation so that we can assess your situation and advise you of your options so call us today at 412-475-9217 or 1-855-DUI-CRIM.
Contact Me
A sex offense conviction will change your life forever, so make sure you do everything possible to fight it. Located just a few blocks from the courthouse in Pittsburgh, I represent clients throughout western Pennsylvania. Available at all times by appointment, I also make jail visits. Contact me today to schedule a free initial consultation.
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