Being charged with Internet sex crimes like child pornography can have a devastating impact on a Missouri resident’s life. One Missouri man is learning this firsthand after authorities recently indicted the man on child pornography charges. He is now facing two felony counts related to allegedly possessing child pornography.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment on the child porn possession charges only recently, but the incidents of claimed possession were said to have occurred in 2010. The 50-year-old man was arrested on these federal charges in the wake of an investigation involving several law enforcement agencies. Franklin County officials were said to have cooperated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation officials and the U.S. Attorney’s Office investigating the allegations.

If convicted, the man in this case could be sentenced to as many as 10 years in prison and $250,000 in financial penalties for each count. Considering that there are two felony charges against him, the man faces up to 20 years in prison and as much as $500,000 in fines. With that being said, this man is entitled to mount a relevant legal defense against these serious charges.

The burden of proof will fortunately rest entirely upon the federal prosecutors in this case. This Missouri man is to be considered innocent until and only if authorities can actually prove him guilty of the child pornography charges they accuse him of committing. Should they fail to do so, no conviction can be achieved. Nevertheless, the potential severity of the consequences should a conviction be obtained mandates that the accused man focus his attention on preparing a meaningful and relevant defense that protects his legal rights and fights for the best possible result.

Source: Sullivan Journal, “Sullivan man charged in child porn case,” Oct. 10, 2012