When you or a loved one is faced with child pornography charges in Shreveport, it can feel like your life is crashing down around you. Before you lose your job, relationships, and freedom, there are steps you can take to protect yourself.
First, know your rights. Second, contact an experienced Shreveport child pornography attorney immediately. At Kinley Law Firm, clients are treated with respect and empathy. As a former Assistant District Attorney for Caddo Parish, founder Bryce Kinley knows how prosecutors build a child porn case against you and how to stop them.
Understanding Child Pornography Laws in Shreveport
Louisiana takes cases involving alleged child pornography very seriously. You could be facing charges based on accusations that you possessed, distributed, produced, or solicited sexual material involving a minor. Even one picture can result in felony charges, prison time, hefty fines, and lifelong registration.
Law enforcement will likely have gathered a significant amount of digital evidence. Computers, phones, tablets, and even cloud storage accounts may be seized via search warrants. Everything from deleted files to browsing history to metadata to file-sharing traffic may be analyzed by forensics analysts.
However, just because there is digital evidence doesn’t mean it was necessarily created by you. Internet file-sharing can occur automatically without your knowledge. Malicious software can even plant these files onto your devices.
Approximately 1,375 of the more than 61,000 federal cases recorded nationwide in the most recent fiscal year involved violations involving child pornography. Since 2020, the number of instances involving child pornography has risen by over 34%, which is a result of both enforcement actions and the widespread use of digital content.
Consequences of a Child Pornography Case
While prison is the most obvious consequence of a child pornography conviction, don’t overlook the ways it can affect other areas of your life:
- Prison
- Sex offender registration
- Difficulty finding housing and employment
- Loss of business licenses
- Damage to your reputation
The sooner you contact an attorney, the sooner they can begin working on your behalf. We understand that being accused of a crime like this can feel isolating, but you are not alone.
What to Do If You Are Under Investigation
Law enforcement casts a wide search, interviewing anyone connected to you, from your closest friends and family to your colleagues and neighbors. If you suspect that you’re under investigation for child pornography, you should:
- Invoke your right to remain silent.
- Don’t allow police to search your home without a warrant.
- Don’t delete any potential evidence.
- Contact an attorney immediately.
Hire a Child Pornography Lawyer
When your freedom is at stake, you shouldn’t delay. At Kinley Law Firm, we take cases that involve alleged child pornography seriously. By retaining legal counsel early, your attorney could:
- Prevent the state from gathering evidence.
- Challenge unconstitutional search warrants and forensic investigations.
- Attack weaknesses in the state’s digital forensic evidence.
- Negotiate with prosecutors to limit charges.
- Prepare a vigorous defense if your case goes to trial.
The Caddo Parish Courthouse is in downtown Shreveport. If you are charged with a serious crime, like possessing child pornography, you will spend a lot of time here. There will be hearings, motions, and maybe even a jury trial. Hire a child pornography lawyer today.
About Kinley Law Firm
While many criminal defense lawyers claim to have experience with child pornography cases, few actually do. Mr. Kinley started his career prosecuting serious felonies in District Court. Not only does he know how prosecutors think when they’re building a case, but he also knows how judges rule on motions and objections.
His experience of first-chairing jury trials and complex violent felonies has honed his trial skills. Furthermore, his experience as a judicial law clerk in Bossier Parish allowed him to see firsthand how judges think about legal arguments and evidentiary issues. Mr. Kinley’s experience allows him to view your case from both sides.
More importantly, every client is treated with respect and dignity. When your future is endangered, you deserve someone on your side who can guide you with compassion and honesty.
FAQs About Child Pornography Charges in Shreveport
What Does CP Mean as a Crime?
CP means child pornography. Child pornography is any visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. It is illegal under federal and Louisiana law. You can be convicted of a felony for merely possessing, distributing, producing, or accessing child pornography. You could face many years in prison and be required to register as a sex offender.
Can You Get in Trouble for Googling Illegal Things?
Yes. Searching for illegal material, particularly child pornography, can get you in trouble with law enforcement if those searches lead to further investigations or search warrants. While curiosity alone won’t get you in trouble, uncovering criminal activity through your searches, acquiring illicit downloads, or violating content restrictions can rapidly shift the situation towards an arrest.
When Did Child Pornography Become Illegal?
Child pornography did not become widely prohibited until the passage of the Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation Act of 1977, making production and distribution a crime in federal law. Amendments have since been added by Congress through subsequent legislation, such as the Child Protection Act of 1984 and acts in the 1990s and 2000s. These added penalties expanded upon the definition to account for computers and the internet.
Can Police See Your Google Searches?
Police won’t know what you Google without a warrant. Typically, law enforcement requires a search warrant or subpoena to access your search history from Google or your internet service provider. Police need probable cause that a crime has been committed to get a warrant from a judge and access your private online data. They won’t see what you Google just by looking.
Contact Kinley Law Firm
When you are charged with child pornography in Shreveport, it’s important to take quick action. Getting a child pornography lawyer on your side right away means your defense can start without delay. As a former prosecutor who is also invested in the Shreveport community, Bryce Kinley and his team at Kinley Law Firm can provide knowledgeable, discreet, and aggressive representation. Contact us today for a consultation.
