Chicago, Illinois Child Sex Offense Lawyer

Veteran Defense Attorney Handling Child Sex Offenses in Cook County, IL

Facing an accusation of a child sex crime is devastating. Not only do you face possible criminal penalties and the sex offender registry, but you also face a lifetime of scorn and public rejection. When you are up against the government in a child sex case, you need an aggressive, experienced lawyer to fight for your rights.

Chicago defense attorney Hal M. Garfinkel is a former prosecutor, with 20 years of experience. He has handled child sex offenses such as rape, sexual abuse and possession of child porn as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney, and he knows how these cases are built — and broken.

Aggressive Defense in a Variety of Child Sex Offense Cases

Mr. Garfinkel has extensive experience defending clients in both state and federal courts who are facing charges such as:

• Indecent exposure
• Statutory rape
• Internet solicitation of a minor through chat rooms or social networking sites
• Possession of child pornography
• Sexual exploitation
• Child molestation or sexual abuse
• Sex offender registry violations
• Other child sex offenses

Due to his long experience, Mr. Garfinkel is adept at handling all levels of child sex charges. Whether you have been charged with a state or federal child sex offense, you can depend on Mr. Garfinkel's years of experience to work to your advantage.

Penalties for Possessing Child Pornography in Illinois

You can be charged with a crime for possessing a videotape, film, photograph, or visual reproduction of a child engaged in a sex act. You can also be charged with this offense if the person depicted in the visual representation has a severe or profound mental disability.

The penalties for this offense vary depending on whether or not you were accused of possessing a "moving depiction," IE, a film or videotape. If the violation involved a moving depiction of child pornography, you can be charged with a Class 2 felony punishable by three to seven years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. For non-moving depictions, the crime will be charged as a Class 3 felony, which carries up to two to five years in prison and a maximum fine of up to $100,000.

The law does provide a potential affirmative defense to a charge of possessing child pornography if you "reasonably believed" that the child depicted was over 18 years old and did not have a profound intellectual disability. To enter this affirmative defense, you must have made an effort to determine if the depiction was legal under Illinois law.

Contact a Chicago Child Sex Crime Defense Attorney

A conviction of a sex crime involving a minor can result in lifelong placement on a sex offender registry. As such, these crimes are among some of the most serious offenses you can be accused of in the state of Illinois. Take every step you can to avoid conviction for a child sex crime and a listing on a child sex offender registry. Contact the Law Offices of Hal M. Garfinkel LLC, Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney today. We can be reached for free consultations at 312-629-0669 or through our online contact form.

Our firm is ready to discuss the details of your case in private. Our Cook County, IL child sex offense attorney is available 24/7 to his clients, and he can meet with you off-site at the precinct or prison if necessary.