Rockville Internet Sex Crimes Lawyer
Skilled Defense for Internet Sex Crime Charges in Rockville, MD
While the internet plays a crucial role in the personal and professional lives of many people, certain types of online activities can lead to criminal charges. Accusations of illegal activity involving the internet may include sex crimes, and because of the ways victims may be affected, a person who is convicted may face multiple types of serious penalties. Those who have been charged with online sex crimes will need to determine what steps they can take to defend themselves and avoid consequences that could affect their personal and professional lives. Because of issues related to digital evidence and other complex factors that may be involved in these cases, legal representation from an experienced lawyer is crucial.
At Salvado Law Offices, our attorneys can help ensure that the rights of people who have been accused of internet sex crimes will be protected. With our knowledge of the laws in Maryland that address sexual offenses and our experience representing clients in a wide variety of criminal cases, we can help people accused of these offenses understand their best options for defense. We are dedicated to helping our clients resolve these cases successfully in ways that minimize the penalties they may face and ensure that they can move forward with their lives.
Different Types of Sex Crimes Involving the Internet
- Child pornography: The possession, distribution, creation, or promotion of explicit material featuring minors, including images, videos, or computer-generated materials that are indistinguishable from depictions of actual children, can lead to harsh penalties under Maryland law. These felony offenses may result in prison sentences ranging from five to 20 years, as well as thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in fines.
- Non-consensual pornography: The online sharing of intimate images or videos of people without their consent is also known as revenge pornography, and it is a criminal offense in Maryland. Distributing materials that a person expected to be private with the intent to harass, intimidate, threaten, blackmail, or otherwise harm the person is a misdemeanor offense. A conviction carries a potential prison sentence of two years and a maximum fine of $5,000.
- Solicitation of a minor: Adults who communicate with minors online while attempting to engage in sexual activity that would constitute an offense such as sexual assault may face felony charges. A person convicted of this offense may be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and fined up to $25,000 for a first offense, and a second offense may result in a sentence of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $50,000.
- Solicitation or promotion of prostitution: The internet may be used to connect sex workers and people who request sexual services in exchange for payment. Communicating with someone online and offering money in exchange for sexual activities may result in charges of solicitation of prostitution, which is a misdemeanor offense that carries a jail sentence of up to one year and a maximum $500 fine. A person who uses the internet to arrange and profit from meetings between sex workers and people who solicit prostitution may be charged with promotion of prostitution. This misdemeanor offense carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.
Contact Our Rockville Internet Sex Crimes Defense Lawyers
As people communicate with others online or access and share information via the internet, they may encounter situations that could lead to sex crime accusations. Understanding how to address these charges is not always easy, but the knowledgeable attorneys at Salvado Law Offices can provide legal representation to ensure that criminal cases will be handled correctly. We will work to help our clients avoid consequences that could affect their futures. To set up a free consultation and receive effective legal representation, contact us at 301-933-1814. Our firm has offices in Rockville, Maryland and Falls Church, Virginia, and we represent clients in both states.