Alexandria Child Pornography Lawyer
As defined by Alexandra, Virginia law, child pornography in Virginia refers to any image or video, digital or hard copy, that depicts any person under the age of 18, engaging in sex acts or even appearing nude in a prurient way. Prurient means in a sexual way. It is not child pornography to take pictures of a toddler in the bathtub because it is cute, but if it is in a suggestive manner or design or distributed for that purpose, it becomes child pornography. If you have been charged with a child pornography offense, you should reach out to a capable Alexandria child pornography lawyer. A qualified sex crimes attorney could work to achieve a positive outcome for you.
Local Legislation Regarding Child Pornography
The definition of child pornography does not differ between the federal and Alexandria law. Child pornography is the same regardless of the jurisdiction that would prosecute those crimes. There are no specific laws unique to Alexandria as opposed to the rest of the Commonwealth. There are no local ordinances in Alexandria to deal with child pornography. The only time there is the child pornography charge in Alexandria, it is based solely upon laws associated with the Commonwealth of Virginia. An Alexandria child pornography lawyer could further explain the nuances of child pornography law to an individual.
Distinguishing Aspects of Child Pornography Cases
Some distinguishing aspects of child pornography cases, as opposed to other sex crimes, include that these days probably 95 percent or more of child porn related cases happen due to computers. Nowadays, these are basically computer-based crimes. For that reason, these cases are unique because they typically know about the person and know about the person’s activity before the person is ever aware that anything is a mess.
Typically in these cases, the government receives a tip from an internet service provider. That tip indicates that some child pornography has come across their service. They identify for law enforcement the internet protocol address or IP address that is involved with the child pornography.
Investigations of Child Pornography
Law enforcement begins investigating the person before they have any idea that something wrong. Usually, their first indication that anything is going on is when the government executes a search warrant at that person’s home or office, depending on where the IP address is registered. Typically it is home-based. It is unique because someone might be committing this crime for months, years, or even just one day and has no idea that everything is a mess until the government executes the search warrant on that person. If someone finds out that they are under investigation for a child pornography offense, they should consult an Alexandria child pornography lawyer immediately.
Record of Online Activities
The record of online activities as an aspect of child pornography investigations is a record of an individual’s activity kept by all internet service providers. Whether it is Verizon, Cox, or any of the main internet service providers, they keep detailed records of child pornography that comes across their airways. When alleged child pornography comes across, they send out a tip to a government agency that is responsible for investigating it. Once that tip comes across, the next step is to investigate the source of the IP address, like where it is located and who pays the bills. Once they have that information sorted out, the next step is the search warrant.
Role of Undercover Agents Online During Investigations
Undercover agents are online during the investigation to find people involved in child pornography. One main way child pornography gets distributed is through records observed through file exchange services. There is too many of them to name, but there are a lot of different ways the person could receive and distribute child pornography. File sharing services may be used when a person becomes active in this system by uploading their own files into the system and by downloading other people’s files from that system.
As long as their computer is engaged with the system, and depending on the permission that they give the program, anyone who logs in to that system could download something that they are offering off of their machine. Often, government agents go into these systems posing as regular citizens and attempting to find child pornography. Once they are successful in doing so, they are able to trace the source of that child pornography by using a single stream download program to identify exactly where it came from and to attempt to locate where that person is.
Consulting an Alexandria Child Pornography Attorney
Child pornography is a serious offense, with even more serious consequences. You may have to forcibly register for the Sex Offender Registry. An Alexandria child pornography lawyer could work diligently to help you mitigate the consequences of conviction. Speak with a determined child pornography attorney that could work tirelessly to protect your rights and advocate for you.
