A man in Fort Collins is facing charges of Sexual Exploitation of a Child – C.R.S. 18-6-403 after a police sting. According to reports, the police downloaded child pornography images from him via a network through his personal internet connection. The man now faces two felony charges after being released from the Larimer County Jail on bond.
What is Sexual Exploitation of a Child?
Sexual Exploitation of a Child is a serious offense in Fort Collins, Loveland and Estes Park. A person will be charged if:
- They are in possession of child pornography (a child is defined as any person under the age of 18), or;
- Other materials that are sexually explicit which include a child, or;
- If they prepare or publish child pornography, or;
- If they entice or induce a child to engage in explicit sexual conduct in order to create child pornography, or;
- If they intend to distribute or sell such material, or have already done so.
Because the man was in possession of sexually explicit material which involved children under the age of 18, and because he was distributing the images via a peer-to-peer network, he has been charged with this sex offense.
What is the Sentence for Sexual Exploitation of a Child?
Sexual Exploitation of a Child is either a class 3, 4 or 6 felony. Because the Fort Collins man possessed the child pornography with the intent to distribute, he is most likely facing the more serious class 3 felony. The sentence for a class 3 felony is up to 16 years imprisonment in the Colorado Department of Corrections, registration as a sex offender, and sex offender treatment overseen by the Colorado Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB).
Why You Need an Experienced Criminal Lawyer
It is vital that you work with an experienced criminal defense attorney if you are facing charges of Sexual Exploitation of a Child in Fort Collins, Windsor or Johnstown. The Fort Collins man admitted to police that he often downloaded child pornography. With such an admission, he will most likely plead guilty to the offense and will never be able to expunge it from his record. It is very important that you contact an experienced lawyer if you have been charged: DO NOT speak with police. Here at the O’Malley Law Office we work hard to get our client’s cases dismissed, and speaking with the police can jeopardize your situation.