South Carolina Sexual Exploitation of a Minor is a felony criminal charge outlawing possession, distribution or manufacturing of illegal images of children. Due to the proliferation of smartphones and Internet access, combined with the automatic monitoring carried out by major Internet companies, there are becoming more and more of these cases.
Many individuals caught up in these situations are not pedophiles or actual pornography traffickers, but instead suffer from mental health conditions like depression, and have become literally addicted to pornography.
We’ve seen over and over the same pattern with our clients. They begin by spending more and more time on the Internet, looking at more and more extreme imagery. This eventually leads to viewing images of people or activities that they would never find attractive or appealing in real life.
This addiction can be effectively treated. We typically incorporate a Ph.D. forensic psychologist into our client’s defense team and recommend our clients follow their recommendation for counseling and treatment programs. This can include both individual and group therapy.
The good news is that prosecutors and judges are beginning to understand the reality of pornography addiction. Over the last several years we’ve helped numerous individuals avoid jail or prison time after being initially arrested for sexual exploitation or a minor charge. This includes both 3rd, 2nd and 1st-degreeĀ variants.
If you or a loved one is facing a South Carolina Exploitation of a Minor, or another serious criminal charge, such as Criminal Solicitation of a Minor or Disseminating Obscene Materials, you’re invited to contact our office for a free case evaluation.
During this appointment, you’ll have a chance to confidentially and privately with an experienced criminal defense attorney who has actually helped people in these situations. You’ll be able to ask any questions that you have, and be given a roadmap toward how you can pursue a successful resolution of your case.