State and Federal Charges
In Wyoming, cases of child pornography almost always lead to charges at both the state and federal levels. Under 18 U.S.C. § 2252, federal charges cover having, receiving, distributing, and making child sexual abuse material. For a first offense of receiving or distributing, the minimum sentence is five years in prison. For making the material, the minimum sentence is ten years. A judge cannot lower these minimums, no matter what the situation is. It is important to have lawyers who are experienced in federal criminal defense, not just state court.
How These Cases Are Investigated
The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) task forces are the ones who usually start child pornography investigations. IP address data from online platforms, peer-to-peer file sharing networks, or cloud storage providers is often the first thing that investigators look at. Usually, the investigation has been going on for months by the time a warrant is carried out and devices are taken. These cases are all about digital forensics.
Digital Forensics and How We Challenge It
Digital forensic evidence is very important to the prosecution’s case in child pornography cases. This includes what was found on the defendant’s devices, when it was accessed, and how it got there. We hire independent digital forensics experts to look into the prosecution’s claims: Did the person know they had the material? Did someone download it on purpose, or did it come through malware, automatic caching, or someone else’s access? These technical questions are often very important.
Penalty Grid
| Federal Possession/Receipt | Federal Production | Registration | State Charges |
| 5-year minimum | 10-year minimum | Lifetime | Additional to federal |
Related Charges We Also Defend
Why Clients in Wyoming and South Dakota Choose Just Criminal Law
Our attorneys spent years working for the state before switching sides. We know exactly how prosecutors build cases and exactly where to find the holes.
We do not split our focus between practice areas. Every attorney, every resource, every minute is focused on one thing: your criminal defense.
We know the courts, the judges, and the prosecutors across Wyoming and western South Dakota. Local familiarity shapes strategy and strategy shapes outcomes.
Servicios de traduccion en espanol disponibles. Every client fully understands their case, their options, and their rights.
Real Results for Wyoming & South Dakota Clients
-
OtherSuppression Appeal — Wyoming Supreme CourtDistrict Court denied motion to suppress. Wyoming Supreme Court accepted certiorari on appeal.
Barney v. State of Wyoming — Wyoming Supreme Court
-
CASE DISMISSEDReckless Endangering / Domestic Battery / Child Endangering — Wyoming
Client charged with reckless endangering, domestic battery, and child endangering. All charges dismissed.
State v. Quezada-Lopez — Wyoming Circuit Court
-
CASE DISMISSEDDUI / DWUI — Wyoming
Client charged with DUI. State unable to lay foundation for the breath test. Case dismissed.
State v. Von Olnhausen — Wyoming Circuit Court
-
CASE DISMISSEDFelony Child Abuse — Wyoming
Client charged with accessory after the fact and aggravated child abuse — a felony. State unable to meet its burden of proof at preliminary hearing. Felony count dismissed.
State v. Bullinger — Wyoming District Court
Charged with a crime in Wyoming? Time is critical.
The sooner you have an attorney, the more options you have.
What Clients Say About Just Criminal Law
Frequently asked questions about child pornography charges in Wyoming
Wyoming Criminal Defense — Communities We Serve
We are based in Gillette, Wyoming, and serve clients across the state and into western South Dakota. Our team knows the local courts, prosecutors, and judges in every community we serve — and that local knowledge makes a real difference in criminal defense.
- Deadwood
- Sturgis (Rally)
- Custer County
- Lawrence County
- Meade County
- Pennington County
We provide on-call criminal defense for Rally-related arrests including DUI, drug charges, weapons offenses, and assault. Call us 24/7 during Rally week.
