Sexual Exploitation of a Child, C.R.S. 18-6-403 in Fort Collins, CO
What are the Different Ways You Can Be Charged with Sexual Exploitation in Colorado?

Sexual Exploitation of a Child, C.R.S. 18-6-403, can be charged for a variety of different acts related to preparing, distributing, viewing, accessing, or handling sexually exploitative material in any other way. If you've been charged, contact the top Fort Collins criminal defense lawyers from the O'Malley Law Office today.

Sexual Exploitation of a Child, C.R.S. 18-6-403, is usually charged in Fort Collins, CO when a person accesses, looks at, or possesses sexually exploitative material that depicts a child.  Less frequently charged is taking on any role in making, distributing, or facilitating the creation of sexually exploitative material will also result in criminal charges.  Yet while these acts are less common in Colorado, they still happen.  If you’ve been charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Child, don’t wait, and contact our top Larimer County criminal defense lawyers today to discuss your case.

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What is Colorado’s Law on Sexual Exploitation of a Child, C.R.S. 18-6-403 at the Larimer County Courts?

How are People Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Child in Fort Collins?

Colorado DOC Time and Other Penalties for Illegal Pornography Charges in Loveland and Estes Park

What is Colorado’s Law on Sexual Exploitation of a Child, C.R.S. 18-6-403 at the Larimer County Courts?

Colorado’s law on Sexual Exploitation of a Child, C.R.S. 18-6-403, prohibits any act that has to do with sexually exploitative material, or illegal pornography that depicts minors.  Such acts include:

  • Viewing, possessing, or accessing with intent to view the material
  • Causing a child to engage in or be used for any explicit sexual contact for the production of the material
  • Preparing, producing, selling, publishing, distributing or making the material accessible to another person in any other way
  • Possessing the material with the intent to sell or distribute it

How are People Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Child in Fort Collins?

Generally, most people are charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Child in Fort Collins for looking at or possessing sexually exploitative material rather than actually making it.  This usually happens when the Fort Collins Police or Larimer County Sheriff’s Office use software to discover images of exploited children.  They may use something like the Child Protection System Software or rapid hash matching to find sexually exploitative images that are stored on a person’s computer.  Learn more about these processes here.

Colorado DOC Time and Other Penalties for Illegal Pornography Charges in Loveland and Estes Park

Illegal pornography charges in Loveland and Estes Park range between a class 5 felony and a class 3 felony.  See the table below for penalties that can result from conviction:

Classification

Circumstances

Penalties

Class 5 felony / F5 The defendant possessed, accessed, or viewed the pornography and it is their first offense.  One count is charged for each sexually exploitative item possessed, viewed, or accessed.
Class 4 felony / F4 The defendant possessed, accessed, or viewed the pornography and:

  • It is the defendant’s second or subsequent offense, or
  • The item(s) accessed was a video, moving visual image, or similar medium.
  • 2 – 6 years in the DOC
    • Extraordinary risk: 2 – 8 years
  • 3 years of mandatory parole
  • Fine of $2,000 – $500,000
  • Sex offender registration
  • Sex offender treatment
  • Required firearm and ammunition relinquishment
Class 3 felony / F3 All other circumstances of Sexual Exploitation of a Child not listed above.
  • 4 – 12 years in the DOC
    • Extraordinary risk: 4 – 16 years
  • 3 years of mandatory parole
    • Extraordinary risk: 5 years
  • Fine of $3,000 – $750,000
  • Sex offender registration
  • Sex offender treatment
  • Required firearm and ammunition relinquishment

Whether you’ve been charged with a class 5 felony or class 3 felony, you can’t afford to take on your charges alone.  Act quickly, and contact our experienced Fort Collins sex crime attorneys today to protect your future.


Have you been charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Child?  First, be smart, and exercise your right to stay silent.  The Fort Collins Police and Larimer County Sheriff are not on your side, so do not discuss your case with them.  Then call 970-658-0007 to discuss your case with one of our top Larimer County sex crimes lawyers today.  Together, we can protect your future.

The location for the Larimer County Justice Center is 201 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. We’ll see you there!

Photo by Sora Shimazaki