Believe it or not, your teenager could be labeled as a sex offender for the rest of their life just for sexting. At Law Office of Michael L. Fell, we understand how this situation can arise. They’re teenagers, they’re full of hormones, and they have access to a smartphone. It’s not hard to see that trouble could come up. Teens are no stranger to questionable behavior, and it’s not a stretch for them to trade photos of themselves back and forth.
Your child isn’t alone – but they could be in serious trouble
According to estimates provided by the FBI, as many as one in six teenagers from 12 years old to 17 years old admits to sexting. The problem is that California is very strict when it comes to minors being involved in any type of sexual photographs. While it may be rare, it is possible for your teen to be charged with a child pornography related crime, such as sending, receiving, or distributing, for taking a picture of themselves and sending it to another minor. The consequences can be life changing and can include the requirement that your teen registers as a sex offender forever.
Keep your teenager off the sex offender list
If your child has been charged with sexting, then there’s only one thing to do: Contact a qualified attorney. Work with the right lawyer or law firm can literally be the difference between your child learning their lesson and moving on and your child being on the sex offender registry for the rest of their life.
Options for handling a sexting defense
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to a charge of sexting. The reality is it’s so rare to see this charge that many attorneys have zero experience with it. However, when you work with a juvenile crimes attorney like Law Office of Michael L. Fell, you can count on him to consult with you and your teen, to look at the evidence, and to use his experience to seek out the best possible outcome.
For example, if your teenager has been charged as an adult, then we may work to keep the case within the juvenile system. This has a lot of advantages, including more lenient sentencing and the fact that the juvenile court system doesn’t automatically require your child to register as a sex offender if they’re convicted.
Turn to us for all your juvenile crime needs
When you work with Attorney Fell you’re working with an attorney who’s experienced in negotiating with the prosecution. In many cases, our offices can find a creative option that will prevent incarceration and the label of sex offender. Call our offices today at (949) 585-9055 for your free case evaluation.