A lot of Michigan residents heard about the recent child pornography case against former Subway spokesman, Jared Fogle. Sex crimes are always taken seriously by law enforcement and prosecutors, but those offenses that involve children are pursued with extra aggression. This means that those who are accused of these crimes might feel like they are facing an uphill battle, even if they are not accused of actually making the pornographic material in question.
With a lot on the line, it is imperative that those who find themselves in these situation educate themselves about the law. For example, when exactly can an individual be charged with distributing child pornography?
Under Michigan law, any person who promotes or distributes, or finances the promotion or distribution of child pornography is guilty of distributing child pornography. But, that person must have known, should have known, or should have reasonably been expected to know that the individual at the center of the material in question was a child.
This law is pretty far-reaching. It includes attempting to finance distribution or attempted distribution itself, as well as attempted conspiracy. On top of the breadth, the law hands out significant punishment to those who are found guilty. A convicted individual can be sentenced up to seven years in prison and dealt a fine of up to $50,000. Additionally, a criminal conviction for a sex crime may have long-lasting repercussions on an individual’s reputation.
When facing sex crime allegations, accused individuals should take comfort in knowing that they do not have to face the charges alone. Instead, experienced attorneys who are knowledgeable about the law stand ready to help fight back against zealous prosecutors.
Source: Legislature.MI.gov, “Section 750.145,” accessed on Sept. 25, 2015
