Burlington County Child Pornography Defense Lawyer

The Law Offices of Michele Finizio Serves Clients Facing Child Pornography Charges in Burlington County and All Other Localities in New Jersey

Child pornography involves persons under the age of 18 and is not protected under the First Amendment. In New Jersey, child pornography laws are treated with very strict penalties. If you are convicted of child pornography charges in Burlington County, New Jersey, you may be on the New Jersey Sex Offender List for life. Additionally, an accusation of alleged child pornography involvement can instantly damage both your professional and personal reputation. Burlington County child pornography defense lawyer Michele Finizio can help.

The New Jersey child pornography laws are established to protect children and prevent sexual exploitation. It is illegal to produce, transport, possess, distribute, sell, share, and look at child pornography that involves minors. And it is not a defense to claim that you may have believed that the person in the pornographic material was age 18 or over.

Given the severity of child pornography laws, if you have been accused of involvement in child pornography in Burlington County, contact The Law Offices of Michele Finizio, an experienced New Jersey child pornography defense lawyer. 

Charges Relating to Child Pornography in Burlington County

Child pornography (N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4) is both a federal and state crime. The most common child pornography charges include:

• Possession of child pornography
• Distribution of child pornography to others (physically or electronically)
• Advertising child pornography
• Printing, producing, or developing child pornography materials
• Invoking child pornography themes and ideas on the internet, including in online chats

Courts apply broad definitions with child pornography charges. For example, even “sexting” – the sending of sexually explicit digital images, videos, text messages, or emails- can absolutely fall within the definition of child pornography charges in New Jersey. 

Under New Jersey Law, child pornography laws are intentionally established as very broad. In addition to the list of charges above, there is a catch-all child endangerment clause, which considers child pornography to include: Causing or permitting a child to engage in any prohibited sexual acts if you know or have reason to know or intend for the act to be filmed in any manner, including the Internet or will be part of an exhibition or performance.

Child pornography charges are almost always felony charges and, along with the prospect of lifetime registration on the New Jersey Sex Offender List, can involve large fines and lengthy imprisonment sentences. New Jersey has harsh penalties put in place for these crimes. If you have been charged with crime implicating involvement with child pornography in Burlington County, contact The Law Offices of Michele Finizio today for a free and confidential discussion.

Enhanced Penalties for Child Pornography in Burlington County

Penalties and prison sentences are severe in New Jersey for those convicted of child pornography

New Jersey has extended the first-degree felony for parents to engage in child pornography to guardians and others responsible for a child’s care. Individuals who have been convicted of distributing more than 25 images of child pornography face a mandatory minimum prison sentence. First offenders face a minimum sentence of 5 years, while repeat offenders face a minimum 10-year sentence. Any individual in New Jersey who causes or permits the reproduction of child pornography will face an extended prison term for second or subsequent offenses.

No Early Release Act

The No Early Release Act ensures that anyone convicted of having engaged in child pornography may serve a minimum of 85% of their prison sentence. Furthermore, under certain convictions in New Jersey, there is a possibility of mandatory lifetime parole.

Child Pornography as a Federal Crime

Child pornography is both a state and federal crime. Because of the nature and complexity of criminal laws in the United States, it is important to retain an experienced and dedicated lawyer to navigate the complicated waters of both the state and federal child pornography laws.

The relevant federal laws addressing child pornography are:

• 18 U.S.C. § 2251- Sexual Exploitation of Children
• 18 U.S.C. § 2251A- Selling and Buying of Children
• 18 U.S.C. § 2252- Certain activities relating to material involving the sexual exploitation of minors
• 18 U.S.C. § 2252A- Certain activities relating to material constituting or containing child pornography
• 18 U.S.C. § 2260- Production of sexually explicit depictions of a minor for importation into the United States

About Burlington County, NJ

Burlington County is a county in the state of New Jersey. The county is the largest in New Jersey by area. Its county seat is Mount Holly. As of the 2019 Census Bureau estimate, the county’s population was 445,349, making it the 11th-largest of the state’s 21 counties. The most populous place is Evesham Township, with 45,538 residents, while Washington Township covers 102.71 square miles, making it the largest area of any municipality in Burlington County. Burlington County is part of the Delaware Valley area, located east of the Delaware River. However, the county stretches across the state, and its southeast corner reaches tidal estuaries leading to southern New Jersey’s Great Bay, which separates the county from the Atlantic Ocean.

Frequently Asked Questions about Child Pornography Law in Burlington County, New Jersey