Lansing Child Pornography Defense Attorney 

Trusted Guidance from Blank Law, PC and Former Sex-Crimes Prosecutors Nicole Blank Becker & Christoper Coyle. 

Child pornography investigations in Lansing move fast, begin quietly, and place your freedom, reputation, and future on the line long before formal charges are announced. Michigan prosecutors and statewide task forces treat every case involving “child sexually abusive activity or material” (CSAM) with zero tolerance, and local juries wince at even the suggestion of wrongdoing. When everything you have built is threatened by a laptop hard drive, a phone, or an IP address that investigators claim is linked to forbidden images, you need a Lansing child pornography defense attorney who understands both sides of a sex-crimes file. 

Attorney Nicole Blank Becker spent years inside the prosecutor’s office charging CSAM felonies, explaining how to frame the evidence for a jury, and explaining what “reasonable doubt” arguments kept her awake the night before trial. Today, as lead counsel at Blank Law, PC, she puts that insider knowledge to work for people accused of child pornography in Lansing, across Ingham County, and as a statewide Michigan child pornography defense lawyer. Working alongside Nicole is Attorney Christoper Coyle, who has a similar background as a prior Deputy Chief of Sex Crimes in the Wayne County prosecutor’s office. Our firm combines front-line digital forensics experience, relentless motion practice, and compassionate client advocacy to deliver elite defense in even the most complex child pornography matters. 

Michigan’s CSAM Statute—What the State Must Prove 

Michigan classifies child pornography crimes in MCL 750.145c. The statute prohibits three core activities: 

• Production: persuading or causing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct while a recording is made. 
• Distribution/Promotion: sending, sharing, selling, or financing CSAM. 
• Possession/Accessing: knowingly possessing, seeking, or accessing CSAM. 

The law imposes sharply escalating penalties when aggravating factors are present—pre-pubescent children, sadomasochistic abuse, bestiality, videos, or 100-plus still images. Penalties range from four years for simple possession to 25 years and $125,000 for aggravated production.  

Sentencing Guidelines and Maximum Penalties 

In April 2025, Michigan updated its felony sentencing grid. Under MCL 777.16g (effective April 2, 2025), CSAM crimes are classified as: 

Conduct	Felony Class	Statutory Maximum	Examples
Producing CSAM	B	20 yrs (25 yrs aggravated)	persuading or filming a child in sexual activity
Distributing/Promoting CSAM	D	7 yrs (15 yrs aggravated)	e-mailing, cloud-sharing, peer-to-peer seeding
Possessing/Accessing CSAM	F	4 yrs (10 yrs aggravated)	storing files, streaming, thumbnail caching

Lawyers use this grid to calculate guideline ranges. Judges may exceed the guideline range when statutory maximums allow, or they give sound reasoning for doing so.  

Lansing Courts and the Road to Trial 

• 54-A District Court (Lansing) hears arraignments, probable-cause conferences, and preliminary examinations. 
• The 30th Circuit Court (Ingham County) handles felony trials and accepts plea agreements. 
• Suppose agents from Homeland Security Investigations or the FBI seize devices. In that case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Grand Rapids can remove the case to federal court, where 18 U.S.C. §2251–2252A exposes defendants to 15–30 years. 

Early intervention allows us to challenge search-warrant affidavits, contest jurisdiction, and push for a dismissal at the preliminary examination before evidence becomes hardened in the eyes of a circuit-court jury. 

Jury Instructions: What the State Must Convince Twelve People to Believe 

The Michigan Model Criminal Jury Instructions separate CSAM charges by subsection: 

• M Crim JI 20.32 – Production: the prosecution must show the defendant knowingly caused, employed, or allowed a child to engage in sexually explicit activity and recorded or financed the recording. 
• M Crim JI 20.33 – Distribution/Promotion: the jury must find the defendant knowingly distributed, promoted, financed, or intended to distribute CSAM with knowledge that the depicted individual was a child. 
• M Crim JI 20.35 – Possession: the jury must decide whether the defendant knowingly possessed or accessed the images, knew or should have known the subject was under 18, and exercised dominion or control over the files. 

These instructions emphasize knowledge, intent, and actual control—elements that our skilled defense attorneys can dispute by dissecting metadata, peer-to-peer caching, and shared household devices.  

Collateral Consequences: Beyond Prison 

Even a first conviction triggers lifelong ramifications: 

• Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA): Distribution or production is a Tier II offense; aggravated cases rise to Tier III. Registration lasts from 25 to 100 years, with quarterly reporting and residency restrictions.  
• Civil Forfeiture: Police may seize computers, phones, external drives, and even a home if it is allegedly used to facilitate the distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). 
• Professional and Educational Impact: State licensing boards routinely deny or revoke credentials after a CSAM conviction. 
• Immigration Consequences: Non-citizens face mandatory removal proceedings following any child pornography felony. 

Proven Defense Strategies in CSAM Cases 

Challenging Possession and Control 
BitTorrent downloads often leave orphaned parts of files or “hash” fragments in unallocated space. We leverage forensic experts to show that impermissible images never existed in viewable form, were automatically cached, or were planted by malware. 

Age-Indeterminacy and Image Authenticity 
Under M Crim JI 20-series instructions, prosecutors must prove the subject was a minor. High-resolution zoom, AI-generated fakes, and manipulated EXIF data can create reasonable doubt about age or authenticity. 

Fourth-Amendment Attacks on the Search 
Child-porn cases frequently hinge on tip-and-trace IP sweeps. We scrutinize peer-to-peer investigative software for error rates and challenge “probable cause” when it relies on a generalized hash or geolocation database rather than direct evidence connecting the defendant’s device. 

Lack of Intent to Distribute 
Michigan law criminalizes distribution only when the defendant knowingly sends or promotes CSAM. Accidental uploads to a synced cloud folder, files shared by a third party, or automatic seeding functions undermine the state’s case. 

Constitutional and Statutory Defenses 
Fair notice challenges arise when the material’s subject appears to be over 18. The First Amendment also shields otherwise legal erotic art if no real minors are used; computer-generated imagery alone may not satisfy 750.145c unless it depicts an actual child. 

The Nicole Blank Becker Advantage 

Few attorneys in Michigan have tried as many sex crimes cases from both counsel tables. As a former Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and Chief of a specialized sex-crimes and child-abuse unit, Nicole: 

• Review law-enforcement warrants and advise detectives on digital forensics protocols—insight she now uses to dismantle flawed warrants. 
• Litigated evidentiary motions on Rule 404(b) “other-acts” evidence and Section 768.27a child-hearsay admissions—knowledge that shapes our pre-trial suppression strategy. 
• Trained new prosecutors on voir dire for sensitive-image cases—experience that allows her to select jurors who will question, rather than assume, the state’s narrative. 

Her courtroom presence and reputation for exhaustive preparation often persuade Lansing prosecutors to reduce charges or dismiss cases outright rather than test unsteady evidence at trial. 

Why Choose Blank Law, PC for a Lansing CSAM Charge? 

Complete Command of Digital Evidence 
Our firm partners with certified forensic examiners who previously worked in ICAC task forces and federal cybercrime labs. We mirror hard drives, verify SHA-1 and SHA-256 hashes, and create defense timelines that expose investigative shortcuts. 

Local Insight, Statewide Reach 
We often appear in the 54-A District Court, 55th District Court (Mason), and 30th Circuit Court. Judges, probation officers, and Lansing detectives are aware of our track record and understand that we will hold the state to its burden. 

Discreet, Trauma-Informed Representation 
CSAM accusations devastate families and careers. We coordinate media containment, negotiate language that minimizes public exposure, and assist clients in navigating DHS employment issues, university disciplinary hearings, such as Title IX, and inquiries related to parental rights. 

Transparent Fees and Trial-Ready Posture 
Every client receives a retainer agreement that specifies costs and clearly outlines milestones. We prepare every case for trial from day one, empowering you to choose a plea only if it truly serves your best interests.  

Frequently Asked Questions 

Will I be arrested immediately after a search warrant is executed? 
Not always. Investigators often seize devices, send them for forensic imaging, and seek an arrest warrant weeks later. Contact Blank Law, PC before charges are filed allows us to present exculpatory evidence and possibly prevent a charge or indictment. 

Can I be charged if I have never downloaded the whole image? 
Yes, Michigan courts have held that knowingly accessing CSAM, even a partial or streaming file, can support a charge of possession. However, automated caching without knowledge is defensible. 

Does deleting files protect me? 
Deleted files can be recovered through forensic carving. Deletion after learning of an investigation can also support obstruction of charges. Seek legal advice before touching any device that might be evidence. 

What if the images were sent to me unsolicited? 
MCL 750.145c requires knowing possession; inadvertent receipt alone is not enough if you take immediate steps to delete the material and block future transmissions. Prompt action and documentation strengthen this defense. 

How long does a SORA obligation last? 
Tier II registration for non-aggravated possession or distribution lasts 25 years; Tier III (aggravated offenses) requires lifetime registration with four in-person verifications each year.  

Speak with a Lansing Child Pornography Lawyer Today 

No one imagines waking up to agents at the door, a seized computer, and the weight of a felony that can haunt them for life. At Blank Law, PC, we treat every CSAM case as the most critical case on our docket, because for you, it is. Time is vital, digital evidence degrades, and memories fade. The sooner we begin, the stronger your defense will be. 

Call (248) 515-5929 or use our contact form for a confidential consultation with Attorney Nicole Blank Becker and Christopher Coyle. Discover how former prosecutors’ insight and a dedicated defense team can make the difference between conviction and vindication. 

This page is for informational purposes only and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results are not a guarantee of future outcomes. For legal advice tailored to your situation, consult Blank Law, PC directly.