Internet Sex Crimes / Pornography

Internet Sex Crimes | Sexting | Online Solicitation of a Minor for Sex

Serving clients in New York City, Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Nassau & Suffolk Counties

Typically, many Internet sex crimes involve using a computer to go online for involvement with child pornography or to engage in the solicitation of a minor. Charges of Internet sex crimes could have far-reaching consequences if you are convicted, including possibly requiring you to register as a sex offender everywhere you go.

Located in Woodbury, Long Island, the child pornography and Internet sex crime defense lawyers at the Law Offices of Anthony J. Colleluori provide clients throughout Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island with aggressive, experienced representation and a quality defense against your pornography or other criminal charges.

As experienced New York City and Long Island criminal defense attorneys, Anthony J. Colleluori and his associates fight to protect your rights and interests, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout New York.

Experienced NYC Long Island Child Porn Defense Lawyer

For additional information about crimes involving obscenity and sex crimes, please visit our First Amendment / Obscenity & Sex Crimes page.

Child Pornography

There is a common saying: “What you don’t know can’t hurt you.” But in relation to Internet sex crimes and child pornography, this could not be further from the truth. Today, you need at least a basic understanding of Internet sex crime and pornography laws and what government agencies are doing to trap sexual predators.

Innocent people can all too easily find themselves in jail serving a long, harsh sentence.

There is no First Amendment defense against child pornography, which is against the law at both federal and state levels. A child is considered to be anyone under 18 years of age, and child pornography refers to any images of a minor engaging in explicitly sexual conduct.

Sexual conduct under the federal statutes includeds:

• Sexual intercourse (genital genital, oral genital, anal genital, or oral anal, aand involving persons of the same or opposite sex)
• Bestiality (sex with an animal - sometimes misspelled "beastiality")
• Masturbation
• Sadistic or masochistic abuse
• Lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of any person

Displaying pornographic images of individuals who merely appear to be a minor engaged in explicitly sexual activity, even though not a minor, is also illegal. It is against the law to possess or distribute child pornography or visit websites displaying child pornography.

Consequences of a Child Pornography Conviction

Penalties for child pornography offenses are severe, even for first time offenders, and a prison sentence is common for cases of mere possession of child pornography.

Transmission of child pornography, such as sending a single photo via e-mail, could result in mandatory minimum sentencing of five years in prison. Upon release from prison, you would spend the rest of your life as a registered New York sex offender.

Online Solicitation of a Minor

Going into a chat room and talking to a person who represents himself or herself as a minor and responding to his or her persuasion to meet you for sexual purposes is solicitation of a minor. Anything you say that could be interpreted as encouraging the minor to engage in sexual activity is solicitation of a minor. An arranged encounter can result in your arrest.

Internet Hunt for Sex Offenders

Whether setting up entrapment or sting operations, federal agencies proactively hunt down sex offenders by having agents pose as minors in chat rooms or by posting hyperlinks that profess to be illegal videos of minors engaging in sexual activities. FBI agents then get search warrants to raid the homes of people who clicked on the links or who engaged in a chat with a supposed minor that had sexual implications.

All manner of techniques are used, from getting search warrants to confiscate computers and scrutinize their content to attempting to get confessions before bringing charges for an offense. You should never speak to an official about your use of the Internet without first consulting with a seasoned criminal defense lawyer, preferably one with experience in Internet sex crimes.

You should contact a criminal defense lawyer immediately if agents call to ask about your Internet use or show up on your doorstep with a search warrant and start questioning you. Involving the Law Offices of Anthony J. Colleluori at the outset might help prevent your case from ever coming to court or lessen charges brought against you.

An innocent mistake of unwittingly clicking on a link could get you into a world of trouble, even if accidental. But you are innocent until proven guilty, and the prosecution must also prove intent. Having an aggressive and skilled lawyer to defend your case can mean the difference between freedom versus time in jail and registration as a sex offender.

Contact an Experienced NYC Long Island Sex Crime Lawyer Today

For additional information about child pornography, online solicitation of a minor, or other Internet crimes or for a confidential consultation to discuss your criminal charges with an experienced defense lawyer, please call us at (516) 741-3400 or fill out our intake form. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

We can communicate with our clients in Mandarin Chinese, Italian, Farsi, Creole, French, Spanish, and Tagalog.

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