South Carolina, just as other states, wants to ensure children are protected. Those accused of sex crimes that have anything to do with minors are not likely to be treated with any sort of leniency by law enforcement officials. This includes those who are accused of possessing, distributing and/or creating child pornography.
What is considered child pornography? This is a question some may feel is not defined adequately. Simply put, child pornography is any sort of sexually explicit material that is used to exploit or represent a minor. A minor is defined as anyone who is younger than 18 years old.
What are the penalties of this type of crime? Child pornography can be punishable by both state and/or federal laws. When it comes to federal laws, there are several that specifically address this issue. These include the laws against creation of child pornography, human trafficking of minors, possession of such material and the selling of child pornography.
Those who stand accused of any involvement in child pornography may face a number of potential penalties, including fines, prison time and being placed on the Sex Offender Registry. Anyone, in South Carolina or elsewhere, who is accused specifically of producing such material could face up to two decades in prison along with hefty fines — if ultimately convicted. Those who are facing child pornography charges may feel that they are in impossible situations. However, as with any other criminal accusation, an individual who is facing a child pornography charge is entitled to a defense and to fair criminal proceedings. An experienced defense attorney can ensure this happens, and will work diligently to achieve the best possible outcome for the client.
Source: FindLaw, “Child Pornography“, Accessed on July 21, 2015