Reporting Child Pornography

[LUMPKCH]

Jurisdiction

Pennsylvania

I reported 2 child pornography websites to my local law enforcement. What are the chances that the police department will treat me like a suspect and charge me with a crime?

 

[Tax Counsel]

I reported 2 child pornography websites to my local law enforcement. What are the chances that the police department will treat me like a suspect and charge me with a crime?

It depends on what evidence law enforcement and the prosecutors would have against you. If you accidentally stumbled on a child porn site, saw just one or two images, and then deleted everything and reported the site to law enforcement you should be fine. The federal child porn law has an express exemption for that exact circumstance and even PA doesn't it would be hard for the state to prove the necessary criminal intent in that circumstance. However, if you deliberately sought out what you knew to be a child porn site, have downloaded a fair bit of child porn, or otherwise were knowingly involved in making, distributing or receiving child porn, that's a problem if the government has evidence of that.

 

[LUMPKCH]

The last paragraph you wrote sums it up perfectly. I never deliberately seek out what I know to be child porn sites, I never download child porn at all and I am definitely not knowingly involved in making, distributing or receiving child porn. If a detective calls me to discuss my police report, I will tell him exactly that. But if the detective calls me a week later to ask follow up questions, would you recommend I get a lawyer?

 

[LUMPKCH]

It depends on what evidence law enforcement and the prosecutors would have against you. If you accidentally stumbled on a child porn site, saw just one or two images, and then deleted everything and reported the site to law enforcement you should be fine. The federal child porn law has an express exemption for that exact circumstance and even PA doesn't it would be hard for the state to prove the necessary criminal intent in that circumstance. However, if you deliberately sought out what you knew to be a child porn site, have downloaded a fair bit of child porn, or otherwise were knowingly involved in making, distributing or receiving child porn, that's a problem if the government has evidence of that.

The last paragraph you wrote sums it up perfectly. I never deliberately seek out what I know to be child porn sites, I never download child porn at all and I am definitely not knowingly involved in making, distributing or receiving child porn. If a detective calls me to discuss my police report, I will tell him exactly that. But if the detective calls me a week later to ask follow up questions, would you recommend I get a lawyer?

 

[mightymoose]

would you recommend I get a lawyer?

If you have a guilty conscience you would be wise to say very little.
Having reported the sites there should be very little reason for anyone to ask much more of you unless they are investigating you.
I'll suggest it is a bit unusual to accidentally discover two such sites without any intent.

 

[army judge]

I'll suggest it is a bit unusual to accidentally discover two such sites without any intent.

For what its worth:

I've lived quite a few decades.

I've never in my entire life STUMBLED upon an adult porn site or a kiddie porn site.

 

[LUMPKCH]

Army Judge, I'm just trying to do the right thing. It's irrelevant how I found the sites. I don't agree with children being treated that way, considering I was molested when I was a young teenager. You weren't trying to be accusatory, were you?

 

[army judge]

You weren't trying to be accusatory, were you?

Why worry about an anonymous loser, like me, living in my mother's outdoor toilet?

I'm a nobody.

I can't harm you.

The police and/or the FBI are the ones that should concern you, mate!!!

 

[LUMPKCH]

Why worry about an anonymous loser, like me, living in my mother's outdoor toilet?

I'm a nobody.

I can't harm you.

The police and/or the FBI are the ones that should concern you, mate!!!

You're not a loser! 2 years ago I was living in my car, homeless and unemployed. Life throws curves balls. Be nice to yourself. Jesus loves you.

 

[LUMPKCH]

Why worry about an anonymous loser, like me, living in my mother's outdoor toilet?

I'm a nobody.

I can't harm you.

The police and/or the FBI are the ones that should concern you, mate!!!

Believe me, you're not a nobody. Do you believe in Jesus?

 

[adjusterjack]

Way off topic. Thread closed.