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Few things come with more of a stigma than child pornography charges.

Being labeled a sex offender is bad enough, but if you’re thought of as someone who preys on children, you may find yourself completely abandoned by people you thought cared about you and your well-being.

In this post, we’re going to outline child pornography laws and penalties in Colorado and at the federal level, then detail several potential defense strategies that a skilled Denver criminal attorney might employ to help you reach the best possible outcome in your case.

Colorado Child Pornography Law and Penalties

The possession, sale, and creation of child pornography is strictly prohibited in Colorado. Possession of over 20 items or several different convictions on related charges can result in enhanced sentencing.

Colorado state law prohibits the following acts:

• Permitting, inducing, enticing, intentionally providing, or causing a child to engage in or be used for sexual conduct in the creation of exploitative sexual material or exploitative sexual performance, or for sexual exploitation
• Any action involving the production, publishing, distribution, sale, advertising, or financing of exploitative sexual material that depicts a child
• Controlling or possessing any exploitative sexual material, no matter the purpose
• Possessing with an intent to distribute, sell, or deal exploitative sexual material
• Intentionally enticing or inviting through electronic or network communication a child under the age of 15 and more than four years younger than the actor to expose, observe, or touch the child’s own or another person’s intimate parts during the communication

Penalties for a conviction fall along the following guidelines:

• If the act is determined to be sexual exploitation, the charge is a class 3 felony which will result in 4-12 years in prison.
• If the act is the procurement of a child for sexual exploitation, it is also a class 3 felony charge with similar punishments.
• If the act is determined to be internet sexual exploitation of a child, a class 4 felony charge will apply along with a punishment of two to six years in prison.

Federal Child Pornography Law and Penalties

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor under the age of 18 years. An image does not need to depict a child engaging in sexual activity. It needs only to be sexually suggestive to count as child pornography. Consent by a child under 18 years is not a valid defense under federal law.

The federal law punishes the possession, production, distribution, and reception of child pornography. It also punishes anyone who allows, coerces, entices, induces, or persuades a child to participate in sexual exploitation to produce an image.

If the offense of child pornography crosses state or international lines through the mail or the internet, federal laws will go into effect.

Federal penalties for a first time offender could involve a prison sentence of 15 to 30 years. Prior convictions and aggravated situations can create harsher penalties, up to life in prison.

A convicted offender can be punished under both state and federal law, or simply under state law, depending on the circumstances.

Defenses against Child Pornography Charges in Colorado and Beyond

Lack of Intent. In order to be convicted of child pornography possession, the prosecutor must prove that you intended to possess the materials in question. For example, it is possible that the materials were put on your computer maliciously or that you downloaded them on accident.

Lack of Knowledge. This can be similar to lack of intent, but the difference is that in this case you didn’t even know that the materials contained child pornography. Perhaps they were downloaded from a mislabeled link. Or someone sent them to you without telling you what they were.

Incriminating Material Not Yours. Are you the only person who uses your computer? If there are multiple users, it may be possible to argue that the offending materials do not belong to you – even though they are on your computer. This type of defense can potentially be used with physical materials as well.

Material Does Not Qualify as Child Pornography. Content has to meet a specific legal definition to be considered child pornography. If you can show that the material you have been accused of possessing is not, in fact, child pornography, the charges should not apply to you.

Fight Back with a Knowledgeable Child Pornography Lawyer

Regardless of whether you are facing charges under federal or Colorado state law, the associated consequences are incredibly severe and you need the help of an experienced Denver criminal defense attorney.  For the best chance at a positive outcome, reach out to our office as soon as charges are filed against you or you learn that you are under investigation. Call us today for a free, confidential case review.

About the Author: 

Denver-based criminal defense and DUI attorney Jacob E. Martinez is a knowledgeable and experienced litigator with a record of success providing innovative solutions to clients facing criminal charges of any severity. Mr. Martinez has been designated a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers and has been awarded both the Avvo Client’s Choice Award and Avvo Top Attorney designation, evidencing his reputation for his exemplary criminal and DUI defense work and high moral standards.