Tampa Child Exploitation Attorneys

It is illegal under both federal and Florida state law to exploit a child. Child exploitation is the unlawful act of hiring, employing, persuading, inducing, or coercing a child into perform sexual acts for commercial profit or personal pleasure. In addition to sexual abuse and child pornography, other forms of child exploitation include child prostitution, child labor, and child sex tourism.

The most common types of child exploitation include the following:

Child Pornography: the illegal act of possessing, distributing, trading, selling, or creating pornographic images that depict a minor stimulating or engaging in sexually explicit activity. Pornographic materials include photographs, magazines, video, digital files, and electronic data.

Child Prostitution: when a minor engages in sexual activity in exchange for money, it is considered child prostitution. In many cases of child prostitution, the child is lured into prostitution by pimps and other businessmen looking to make a profit, after he/she has been kidnapped or has run away from home.

Child Sex Trafficking: the illegal act of abducting, harboring, recruiting, transporting, selling, or obtaining a minor. Victims of child sex trafficking are forced or coerced into performing sexually explicit acts for commercial gain.  Furthermore, victims of trafficking are usually also exploited for prostitution, pornography, sex tourism, or child labor.

Child Sex Tourism:  It is illegal for any U.S. citizen to travel to a foreign country with the intention of engaging in sexual conduct with a person under the age of 18.  Any U.S. citizen that is found participating in child sex tourism will be prosecuted on child exploitation charges, even though the crime was not committed on U.S. soil.

Child Labor: Generally speaking, child labor is considered the illegal act of forcing or coercing a minor into performing laborious activities that are physically, mentally, or sexually harmful or exploitative.  Some common types of child labor include prostitution, domestic service, farming, factory work, etc.

Child exploitation is a serious felony offense that will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  Any individual convicted of child exploitation will face imprisonment in a federal penitentiary, steep fines, court-ordered counseling, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. Convicted sex offenders are constantly shunned by society, and usually lose their jobs, damage their reputation, and limit their future opportunities.

Contact our Tampa Child Exploitation Attorneys

If you have been charged with child exploitation, you must contact an experienced attorney immediately. A skilled attorney can protect your rights and fight on your behalf in criminal court. At Thomas & Paulk, we have successfully defended many clients charged with child exploitation throughout the Tampa Bay Area. We are well-versed in Florida sex crimes law, and utilize highly effective strategies to obtain favorable results for our clients. Furthermore, we provide our clients with personalized attention, and are always available to discuss any questions or concerns they may have.

At Thomas & Paulk, out number one priority has always been to serve our clients’ best interest, and make sure they receive the legal justice they deserve.

If you are in need of a dedicated and compassionate Tampa child exploitation attorney, contact Thomas & Paulk today for your free consultation at (800) 239-3195!

Contact us about your sex crimes case today!