If you are looking for a St. Petersburg child pornography lawyer, you or someone close to you is probably under investigation or already charged. Florida law now calls this offense possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Since July 1, 2026, possession is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison for each image.
Goldman Wetzel defends these cases in Pinellas County courts and in federal court in Tampa. Both partners work on every case, and attorney Summer Goldman is a former Pinellas County prosecutor. If officers have searched your home or taken your phone or computer, call (727) 828-3900 before you speak with anyone. The consultation is confidential.
Under investigation in Pinellas County? Speak with a defense lawyer before you speak with detectives.
If Police Searched Your Home or Took Your Devices
Most people in St. Petersburg learn they are under investigation when detectives arrive with a search warrant. An arrest may not happen that day. The devices go to a forensic lab, and charges can follow months later. What you do in between matters.
- Do not answer questions. Be polite, say you want a lawyer, and stop talking.
- Do not delete anything or reset a device. Deleted files are usually recoverable, and wiping a device can lead to a separate charge of tampering with evidence.
- Do not consent to a search. If officers have a warrant, do not interfere. If they do not, you can say no. Do not volunteer passcodes before speaking with a lawyer.
- Call a defense lawyer now. A lawyer who is involved before an arrest can deal with investigators for you and prepare for surrender and bond if charges are filed.
Who Investigates Child Pornography Cases in St. Petersburg
In Pinellas County, these cases are investigated by the St. Petersburg Police Department, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and other local agencies, often with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement or an Internet Crimes Against Children task force. Federal cases are investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI.
Most cases begin with a CyberTip. Email, cloud storage, social media, and messaging companies must report suspected material to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which sends the report to local investigators. Other cases begin on file-sharing networks, in undercover chats, or with a report from someone who had access to a device.
In each of these, the evidence points first to an account or an internet connection. Who was using it is a separate question, and often the central one. Our page on sex crime investigations explains the process in more detail.
Where a St. Petersburg Case Is Heard
The federal courthouse in downtown Tampa.
State court. Charges from St. Petersburg are prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office for the Sixth Judicial Circuit and heard at the Pinellas County Justice Center in Clearwater. A person held after an arrest sees a judge within 24 hours for a first appearance, where bond and release conditions are addressed.
Federal court. Federal charges are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and heard at the Sam M. Gibbons United States Courthouse in downtown Tampa.
Florida and the federal government can each prosecute the same conduct, and the court a case is filed in can change the sentencing exposure significantly. We defend clients in both, so the same attorneys stay with the case wherever it is filed. See our St. Petersburg federal criminal defense page for how federal cases work.
Penalties for Child Pornography and CSAM Charges
Florida raised the penalties for these offenses on July 1, 2026. For conduct on or after that date:
- Possession (Fla. Stat. § 827.071(5)(a)): a second-degree felony, up to 15 years in prison for each image. There is no mandatory minimum unless the person has a prior sex offense conviction.
- Promoting or transmitting (§ 827.071(3) and § 847.0137): up to 15 years, with a five-year mandatory minimum for an adult.
- Using a child in a sexual performance (§ 827.071(2)): a first-degree felony, up to 30 years, with a 15-year mandatory minimum for an adult.
- Prior sex offense conviction: mandatory minimums of 10 years or more under Fla. Stat. § 794.0116.
- Federal charges: receipt or distribution carries a five-year mandatory minimum and up to 20 years. Possession carries up to 10 years, or up to 20 if an image shows a child younger than 12.
A conviction also means registration as a sex offender, sex offender probation, and limits on internet use, employment, and where you can live.
Conduct before July 1, 2026 falls under the earlier law, when possession was a third-degree felony. For the full chart of charges, enhancements, and the 2026 changes, see our Florida child pornography lawyer page.
Your Defense Team
Two Attorneys on Every Case
Our firm handles each case as a team, so both partners are involved in your defense. Together, attorneys Summer Goldman and Maribeth Wetzel have nearly 50 years of combined experience in criminal law, and Summer Goldman is a former Pinellas County prosecutor.
We do not judge the people who call us, and everything you tell us is confidential.
How We Defend Child Pornography Charges
The State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you knowingly possessed the material. Every case is different, but our review starts with the same questions.
- Who was using the device or account? An internet address identifies a subscription, not a person. Shared computers, shared Wi-Fi, roommates, and guests all matter.
- Did you know the files were there? Cached thumbnails, bulk downloads, and files saved automatically from group chats do not by themselves prove knowing possession.
- Was the search lawful? We review the warrant, the information behind it, and how officers carried it out, and we move to suppress evidence from an unlawful search.
- Does the forensic report hold up? We can retain an independent examiner to test the State’s conclusions about file dates, whether files were opened, and how they reached the device.
- Can your statements be used? We examine whether questioning complied with Miranda and whether any statement was voluntary.
When the evidence is strong, the work shifts to the sentence: the number of counts, whether a mandatory minimum applies, and the mitigation presented to the prosecutor and the judge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be arrested the day of the search?
Often not. Detectives commonly seize the devices, leave, and wait for the forensic examination, which can take months. An arrest can still come without warning, so silence from investigators does not mean the case is closed.
Will my case be in state or federal court?
It depends on which agency investigated and what prosecutors decide. Cases worked by local detectives usually stay in Pinellas County. Cases worked by Homeland Security Investigations or the FBI usually go to federal court in Tampa, and federal prosecutors can also take over a local case.
What if someone else used my computer or Wi-Fi?
That is one of the most common issues in these cases. The State has to prove who knowingly possessed the files, not just which internet connection or device they were found on.
Will I have to register as a sex offender?
A conviction under section 827.071 requires registration as a sex offender in Florida, in most cases for life. Avoiding a conviction that requires registration is often a central goal of the defense.
Related Pages
- Florida child pornography and CSAM charges and penalties
- St. Petersburg sex crimes lawyer
- St. Petersburg federal criminal defense lawyer
- Tampa child pornography lawyer
- Sex offender registration
Speak With a St. Petersburg Child Pornography Attorney
The earlier a defense lawyer is involved, the more options there are. If you are under investigation or have been charged in St. Petersburg or anywhere in Pinellas County, contact Goldman Wetzel or call (727) 828-3900 for a confidential consultation.
Speak With a Criminal Defense Attorney Today
If you have questions about a criminal charge, investigation, arrest, or your legal options, contact Goldman Wetzel for a confidential consultation.