While many allegations of criminal acts in Virginia will be viewed negatively and cause problems in the personal life of the person who is accused, there are few if any crimes that are perceived worse than those involving possession of child pornography. A person who is confronted with charges linked to child pornography in any context needs to make sure that they craft a strong defense from the time they are arrested and throughout the investigation and criminal case.
A pastor has been arrested on multiple charges connected to possessing child pornography. The man, 48, is facing eight felony warrants for his involvement. Law enforcement states that there was no belief that he was manufacturing this material, but was only involved in downloading it to his computer, possessing it and taking part in distribution of it to others. Police say that the found more than 3,000 images and recordings depicting underage people. The items that the police seized include laptops, iPads, cellphones, an iPod, VHS recordings and much more. The man is a pastor at a Baptist church and has been at that location since 2001. In his work, he was in close proximity to children.
Allegations of sex crimes have a large enough stigma on their own. When these extend to the involvement of children, the aftermath can be devastating. A person will face time in prison, hefty fines, the need to register as a sex offender, fear in the community, problems finding living arrangements and employment and much more.
Everyone deserves a strong defense and there are times when the charges are unfounded and the search for information was not conducted properly and according to the law. Even if the person was involved in something the person should not have, that does not mean they should shun having legal help to combat the charges.
In this case, a Virginia pastor was arrested on numerous charges related to possessing child pornography. Amid the statements being made about the case and the charges, he needs to make sure that he lays the foundation to defend himself. A conviction will not only entail criminal punishments, but severe damage to reputation and a rough go in his personal life.
Source: wavy.com, “Pastor, Social Services director arrested on child pornography charges,” Kevin Green, May 23, 2016
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