At Marcilliat & Mills PLLC, our skilled North Carolina criminal defense lawyers fully understand how an accusation of child exploitation can ruin our clients’ personal, professional, and public lives before the case ever makes its way through our legal system or inside a courtroom.
If you have are being accused of, investigated for, or charged with a sex crime involving a minor, including child pornography, which falls under sexual exploitation of child crimes, our criminal defense lawyers provide a tactical edge in each of our client’s cases by prioritizing facts over allegations while developing effective defense strategies.
Our team of attorneys at Marcilliat & Mills PLLC have defended some of the most difficult cases imaginable while sharing his experience producing positive results with our skilled legal team to ensure all our North Carolina clients get a fair trial, no matter what type of sex crimes against minors they are being charged with.
We understand that when our North Carolina residents are charged with the sexual exploitation of a child, their reputations, livelihoods, and very freedom are at stake.
With so much on the line, it is imperative to partner with a team of criminal defense attorneys who have over 110 combined years of experience producing positive results for all North Carolinians facing these difficult charges.
Contact us today to learn more about the innovative defense strategies we implement for each of our client’s unique and important cases.
What is Considered Sexual Exploitation of a Child in North Carolina?
Sexual Exploitation of a Child in North Carolina is a serious allegation that comes with severe felony charges that can change your life.
First-degree Sexual Exploitation of a Child in North Carolina may include:
- Use, employ, induce, coerce, encourage, or facilitate a person under the age of 18 to engage in or assist others to engage in sexual activity for a live performance or for the purpose of producing material that contains a visual representation depicting this activity.
- Permit a minor in your custody or control to engage in sexual activity for a live performance or for the purpose of producing material that contains a visual representation depicting this activity.
- Transport or finance the transportation of a minor through or across North Carolina with the intent that the minor engages in sexual activity for a live performance or for the purpose of producing material that contains a visual representation depicting this activity.
- Record, photograph, film, develop or duplicate for sale or pecuniary gain material that contains a visual representation depicting a minor engaged in sexual activity.
Each of the previous alleged acts is charged as first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor — a Class D Felony punishable by at least 38 to 156 months in prison.
What is Second-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor in North Carolina?
Second-degree exploitation of a minor is a Class F felony, punishable by at least 10 to 33 months in prison, and is defined as knowing the character or content of the material, you:
- Record, photograph, film, develop or duplicate material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual activity
- Distribute, transport, exhibit, receive, sell, purchase, exchange or solicit material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual activity
What is Third-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor in North Carolina?
Third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor is a Class H felony, with the sentencing of four to eight months of community punishment (for an offender with no prior record) when knowing the character or content of the material you possess contains a visual representation of a minor engaging in sexual activity.
Each of these charges and their punishments will be enhanced when the individual who is convicted of the sex crime has a criminal history.
No matter the reason you have been accused of sexual exploitation including whether it was a misunderstanding, or a vindictive spouse looking for leverage during divorce or custody proceedings once the allegations are made, they cannot be taken back.
At Marcilliat & Mills PLLC, our skilled sexual exploitation of child attorneys in North Carolina develop strategic criminal defenses that provide each of our accused clients with a platform to tell their side of the story, to redeem themselves, and secure their futures by pursuing the best possible outcome for their unique cases.
At times, those charges may rise to federal crimes, including those that involve child pornography that is received or distributed via the internet, visiting a website offering child pornography, or attempting to download illegal pornographic material via a peer-to-peer file-sharing network.
An accidental download can trigger a knock on your door by state or federal investigators.
If this has happened to you, our skilled federal crimes defense attorneys at Marcilliat & Mills PLLC can help.
Sexual Exploitation of a Child Federal Crimes Attorneys Representing North Carolina Residents
At Marcilliat & Mills PLLC, our leading sex crimes attorneys in North Carolina know that sexual exploitation of child charges can easily be enhanced to federal charges when our clients are accused of the purchase, sale, production, distribution, or possession of child pornography, or transporting pornographic material across state lines.
If you are under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or a local law enforcement agency working with the FBI, on suspicion of child exploitation it is likely that your computer, laptop, cellphone, any flash drives, or other digital storage items will be seized and searched.
If you are served with a search warrant to take any of these items, you should contact our skilled sex crimes defense lawyers in North Carolina immediately.
We are equipped to handle all federal cases.
At Marcilliat & Mills PLLC, our federal criminal defense attorneys have represented clients in every federal courtroom in North Carolina.
We understand the various statutes relating to grand jury indictments, evidence discovery, and deadlines for filing legal motions because, in federal court, experience makes a difference.
If you have been charged with a federal sex crime in North Carolina, partnering with experienced and influential criminal defense attorneys will allow you to prioritize your freedom, which is the principal element of any criminal case.
Contact us today to get the representation you need to pursue real results.
Marcilliat & Mills PLLC: Established Child Exploitation Defense Attorneys. Real Results.
If you have been accused, charged, or investigated for the sexual exploitation of a child in North Carolina, do not leave your future to chance by discussing your case with the investigator or prosecutor’s office without an accomplished criminal defense attorney by your side.
Contact our skilled child exploitation defense attorneys in North Carolina at Marcilliat & Mills PLLC today by calling 919-838-6643 or online to schedule a free consultation to learn how we can empower you to take a stand and pursue real results.