A child pornography accusation can upend your work life, family, and reputation simultaneously. Your devices may be seized, accounts may be disabled, and a bond hearing may be set on short notice. As a Pickens County child pornography lawyer, I, Christopher L. Jones, could move quickly to assess the charges and evidence against you to craft a defense tailored to your case.
You deserve clear guidance and strategic legal advocacy. Contact Chris Jones Law today to consult a dedicated criminal defense attorney and begin fighting for your rights.
How Does the State Define and Punish Child Pornography Charges?
The state prosecutes three degrees of sexual exploitation of a minor, plus a separate possession statute. First-degree charges apply when a minor is used in producing sexually explicit content. These charges carry a mandatory minimum prison sentence of three to 20 years, consecutive to other sentences. Second-degree charges cover the recording or distribution of sexually explicit images of a minor and carry a mandatory minimum sentence of two to 10 years. Third-degree charges involve the possession of material containing sexually explicit images of a child and are a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
South Carolina Code of Laws § 16-15-390 includes a stand-alone offense for producing, distributing, or possessing obscene depictions of minors, with penalties of up to 10 years. The statute defines visual depiction or representation broadly to include digital images and data capable of conversion into images.
Recent amendments recognize morphed images of an identifiable minor and permit an arrest warrant in these exploitation cases only after the authorities have consulted with the appropriate legal entities. These rules are particularly important for a Pickens County attorney to understand and consider when challenging the origin of a child pornography case.
Registry and Collateral Consequences
Convictions related to child pornography often trigger sex-offender registration. Under the state’s registry statute, sexual exploitation of a minor in the first, second, or third degree is generally classified as a Tier II offense, while the more recently added obscene depiction offense is listed as Tier I. The law also outlines limited removal pathways based on tier and time. Your Pickens County attorney could devise a strategy that accounts for these tiers before entering plea discussions about sexual exploitation of minors.
Registering as a sex offender can affect your ability to find housing, secure employment, and travel. In my practice, I advise my clients on status checks the state’s law enforcement division performs, potential electronic monitoring conditions they must follow in related offenses, and how any negotiated outcome could impact their long-term reporting duties if they must register as a sex offender.
Early Defense Steps That Make a Difference
Digital cases focus on how evidence was found, copied, and attributed to a person. When I provide legal representation to Pickens County clients accused of participating in the sexual exploitation of minors, I scrutinize the warrant’s scope, the timing of any preview searches, and whether agents exceeded the judge’s authorized categories. Overbreadth, lack of particularity, and plain-view expansions are frequent litigation points in device seizures.
Charging and sentencing should also be tested against the correct degree and the updated possession statute. A mischarged count can trigger mandatory sentencing minimums that do not fit the facts. When you come to Chris Jones Law, I could work to lessen the charges against you and help you avoid harsh penalties.
Contact a Pickens County Attorney Today To Discuss Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Charges
If you are facing charges of sexually exploiting a minor, you want an attorney you can contact directly. Christopher L. Jones could provide you with clear case updates and a defense plan that addresses both the charges and their long-term effects. I could meet you where you are, explain each step before it happens, and work to protect your record and future.
If you need a Pickens County child pornography lawyer, contact my office for a confidential case review.
