An Oklahoma man arrested for possessing and distributing child pornography has been released on bond despite objections from the prosecution. According to court documents, Michael Kristian Gomez was arrested last month, after members of the Oklahoma Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force accessed files on his computer through a public file sharing system in late …
An Oklahoma man arrested for possessing and distributing child pornography has been released on bond despite objections from the prosecution. According to court documents, Michael Kristian Gomez was arrested last month, after members of the Oklahoma Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force accessed files on his computer through a public file sharing system in late December. According to investigators, the files included eight videos of young children being raped or used in sex acts. Wagoner County Judge Dennis Shook initially set Gomez’s bond at $100,000 for the child pornography charges, but that amount was significantly reduced after the defense argued that the bond was unreasonably high. This is only one example of the favorable outcome that can result from enlisting the help of a reputable criminal defense attorney in your case. Contact our attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center immediately if you have been arrested for a sex crime anywhere in Oklahoma.
Defense Attorney Successfully Had Client’s Bond Reduced
Once the child pornography images were discovered by Oklahoma investigators, the task force served a search warrant at Gomez’s home on February 12, and confiscated several computers and other electronic storage devices found to contain pornographic videos. Despite protestations from the prosecution, Judge Shook agreed with Gomez’s defense attorney that the defendant’s bond was excessive and reduced the amount to $50,000; Gomez was released later that day. “The basis of my objection would be the seriousness of the crime,” said Assistant Wagoner County District Attorney Brett Chapman. “It’s a very serious offense for which there is a high punishment in the Department of Corrections.”
Penalties for Child Pornography in OK
Under Oklahoma law, child pornography is considered a serious offense and is punished harshly by the legal system. A child pornography conviction, for example, may carry a punishment of significant jail time, hefty fines, sex offender registration for life and severe restrictions on where the offender can live and work. While Gomez’s defense attorney admits that the charges filed against his client are serious, he feels the strict conditions of the Oklahoma man’s release are harsh enough to quell the public’s concerns. For example, Gomez is required to wear a GPS ankle monitor, he must follow a curfew, and he is prohibited from using the internet or being around minor children.
Our Criminal Defense Attorneys Will Protect Your Rights
Sex crimes carry a significant stigma, and, unfortunately, many individuals charged with child pornography offenses in Oklahoma are viewed as guilty by the public and the prosecution before the case even goes to court. For this reason and others, it is imperative that individuals arrested on charges of child pornography in Oklahoma hire a qualified defense attorney to represent their case. Here at Oklahoma Legal Center, we understand how devastating a sex crime conviction can be for a defendant and his or her family. Our knowledgeable defense lawyers are dedicated to protecting the legal rights of those charged with sex crimes throughout Oklahoma, and will work diligently to have your charges reduced to a lesser offense or possibly even dismissed altogether.