A 34-year-old nurse has pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography over the Internet and could face up to 20 years in federal prison, according to reports.
The man has been in custody since his arrest in July. A sentencing hearing has not yet been set, according to U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley III.
Court documents allege that FBI agents and other law enforcement officers executed a federal search warrant at the man’s residence. During an interview, the man apparently admitted that he had searched for, downloaded, and viewed “all types” of child pornography.
He allegedly told police that his addiction to child pornography had started about four years ago.
A forensic examination of the man’s laptop and a thumb drive allegedly revealed more than 190 videos and at least 4,000 images depicting child pornography.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
A charge of possession, receipt or distribution of child pornography can ruin your life. Simply being accused of this crime can forever alter the way people look at you. It can ruin relationships, affect your job prospects, and even impact your custody of your children.
A key element associated with child pornography is that you had to have knowledge that you possessed or were producing child pornography. This can be hard to prove, especially if you accidentally clicked on the wrong link or ended up with a piece of malware that downloaded a file to your hard drive without you ever knowing it. In cases where possession is accidental or unknowing, a criminal defense attorney may be able to successfully defend you of these charges.
If the case in question involves images or videos on your computer, the prosecutor must establish a connection between you and the computer, and prove that you knew how to access the files. This can be difficult to do if multiple people had access to the computer. A Florida Child Pornography Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton may be able to establish reasonable doubt sufficient to convince a judge or jury to dismiss your case, reduce the charges against you, or lessen your penalties.
If you have been charged with a child pornography offense in Florida, let us help evaluate the details of your case and your options. Call us today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online for a free consultation.