Toronto Child Pornography Lawyer

Child pornography allegations are very serious. If you are charged in the Greater Toronto Area with a Toronto child pornography offence you should immediately contact an experienced Toronto criminal lawyer.

What is child pornography?

The Criminal Code of Canada defines child pornography as: A photographic, film, video or other visual representation, whether or not it was made by electronic or mechanical means, That shows a person who is or is depicted as being under the age of eighteen years and is engaged in or is depicted as engaged in explicit sexual activiey, or The dominant characteristic of which is the depiction, for a sexual purpose, of a sexual organ or the anal region of a person under the age of eighteen years. Written material, visual representation or audio recordings may also be classified as child pornography depending on their content.

Is there a difference between child porn and child pornography?

“Child porn” is a slang used to describe child pornography. There is no legal definition of child porn.

What are the types of child pornography offences?

The most common Toronto child pornography offence is that of possessing child pornography. This means the prosecution is alleging that the accused had both knowledge and control over the images alleged to be child pornography. Due to the discreet nature in which child pornography is distributed, computers are a very common tool used in this type of offence. The criminal law legislators, therefore, created the offence of accessing child pornography. Accessing child pornography is interpreted as “knowingly causes child pornography to be viewed by, or transmitted to, himself or herself.” Accessing and Possessing child pornography carry minimum jail sentences upon conviction. All child pornography allegations are very serious and potentially have serious penal consequences.

The most serious offences involving child pornography are making child pornography and distributing child pornography. These offences carry longer minimum jail sentences upon conviction then accessing or possessing child pornography.

Can Adam Weisberg help with Toronto child pornography charges?

Toronto criminal lawyer Adam Weisberg will defend allegations of child pornography.  Adam Weisberg handles these matters discreetly when acting as a Toronto child pornography lawyer.  Allegations involving child pornography can be very humiliating and damaging to a person's reputation.  There are many defences available to people charged with this type of offence.  The stigma of being charged with child pornography alone can be devastating. An experienced Toronto criminal lawyer can determine the best defence and ensure all your rights are protected.

What types of defences are there to Toronto child pornography allegations?

Many people charged are innocent, for example: child pornography may have been planted on an accused person's computer by an angry acquaintance; the material could have been downloaded unknowingly or by accident; or an outside individual may have infiltrated the accused person's computer network.

Many Toronto child pornography allegations also involve searches performed by police. Sometimes the searches are conducted with search warrants and other times they are warrantless searches.  These searches may be challenged as unreasonable searches under Section 8 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. If the “Charter Challenge” is successful the evidence can be excluded leading to an acquittal.

If you or someone you know is charged with possession or production of child pornography, contact an experienced Toronto criminal lawyer immediately to ensure your rights are protected. Adam Weisberg can be reached at 416.603.3344.