A Dallas man is facing serious legal trouble after he pleaded guilty to a charge of child pornography in federal court on Jan. 27. A news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office stated that the man admitted he had images and videos of underage children on his laptop. The computer that contained the child pornography was found when FBI agents executed a search warrant in March of last year.

The Dallas man has acknowledged sharing images of child pornography via the Internet and through file-sharing software. The man pleaded guilty to one count of transporting and shipping child pornography. He is confronting significant prison time, ranging from five to 20 years, and also the possibility of fines of up to $250,000. He also faces the possibility of parole for the rest of his life. Sentencing is scheduled for May 4.

In Texas, child pornography charges are taken very seriously and are normally dealt with vigorously. Not only is this man facing years of prison time and civil penalties, but he also may have to register as a sex offender. Anyone facing these types of allegations can expect an uphill legal battle, as prosecutors are under significant public pressure to get convictions in sex crimes cases.

However, each accused individual is entitled to defend themselves in court, and they are guaranteed the same legal protections that apply to all individuals accused of a crime. Strong defenses can be built to challenge sex crimes charges, and speaking to an experienced legal professional may be a good first step toward protecting your freedom.

Source: MyFoxDFW.com, "Man Pleads Guilty to Computer Child Porn," Alice Wolke, Jan. 27, 2012