Florida Attorney Arrested for Child Porn Possession
When you think of those accused of child porn crimes, you may imagine people who aren’t familiar with the law. Maybe they are uneducated people who didn’t know what they were doing and didn’t think they would get caught. Perhaps in many cases, but not all.
Would you believe that a lawyer — one who actually represents child abuse victims — would have close to 2,000 child porn files in their possession? This recently happened in West Palm Beach. A 53-year-old South Florida attorney who once represented victims of child sexual abuse recently pled guilty in federal court to child pornography possession.
The lawyer was arrested on March 29. The man admitted to downloading child porn to his personal laptop. On March 15, FBI agents executed a search warrant at the man’s apartment in West Palm Beach. Detectives discovered that the man was actively downloading child sexual abuse material using peer-to-peer software. Close to 2,000 images and videos of child porn were found on his devices. The images and videos showed children — girls as young as 5 years old.
Investigators took the man’s phone. It was unlocked with a background image featuring a female between the ages of 16 and 25 having sex with two men.
The man was previously a partner at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll in Palm Beach Gardens. He was head of the firm’s sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and domestic abuse team. He was a successful lawyer who had achieved multiple trial verdicts for his clients. He was able to get numerous settlements for survivors of sexual crimes, including child and adult victims, totaling millions of dollars. The lawyer also played a pivotal role in helping pass Florida’s 2010 legislation that repealed all statutes of limitation for child sexual abuse.
The man was fired from the law firm after the allegations. Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll is shocked by the allegations and is cooperating with the investigation.
The man’s sentencing is scheduled for December 18 in the U.S. District Court. He faces up to 20 years in prison, as well as lifetime supervised release. He will likely be ordered to pay restitution to his victims as part of his punishment. The criminal charges were brought about as part of Project Safe Childhood, which is a nationwide initiative that was launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Contact a Legal Professional for Help
People from all walks of life can be attracted to child porn. Even attorneys — those who clearly know the law — can be caught and arrested for such a crime.
No matter who you are or what your profession is, if you have been arrested for child porn crimes, you need legal help right away. Get assistance from a Florida child pornography lawyer from the Law Offices of Gilbert A. Schaffnit. To schedule a consultation with our office, call (352) 505-1799 or fill out the online form.
Source:
local10.com/news/local/2023/10/04/feds-south-florida-attorney-pleads-guilty-to-possessing-nearly-2000-images-of-child-porn/
