The law in California imposes severe penalties for sexting with minors. Depending on the severity of the crime or if it involves a minor from a different country, the case may be escalated to the federal government.
If the crime occurred across state lines or in another state, the case would be transferred to the jurisdiction of that state. In such cases, the authorities will seek to impose significant prison time and require the person to register as a sex offender upon conviction.
If a person is found to have enticed a minor to send nude photographs, they could be charged with child pornography and distribution of images involving minors.
Is it Sexting if a Minor Sent Me Nude Pictures?
If a person has been sent nude pictures of a minor and kept them on their phone, it is illegal. Sexting with a minor is prohibited, and an offender can be charged with possession of child pornography.
Additionally, suppose the police can prove that a person enticed a minor to send nude photographs. In that case, the offender can be charged with distributing child pornography or producing child pornography.
Penalties For Illegal Sexting In California
Illegal sexting involving juveniles in California is tried in a juvenile court. The authorities take into account the ages of the people involved when determining the penalties.
For instance, if two 17-year-olds were sexting each other and they didn't have a criminal record, a case would most likely not be filed. On the other hand, if an adult is sexting with a minor, the case will be prosecuted in court.
Cases vary between the number of images, the type of content, the age difference between the parties involved, and whether the state or federal government prosecutes the case.
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