Bloomfield Hills, MI Child Pornography Defense Attorneys 

Blank Law, PC — Led by Former Chief of the Sex-Crimes Prosecutor Nicole Blank Becker, Working Alongside Former Deputy Chief of the Sex Crimes Unit Christopher Coyle 

Allegations of possessing, distributing, or producing child sexually abusive material can shatter reputations in a matter of hours, especially in a close-knit community like Bloomfield Hills. When police seize computers and phones or a grand jury subpoena arrives, you need counsel who understands the digital forensics behind these cases and the courtroom strategies that keep lives intact. Nicole Blank Becker, founder of Blank Law, PC and former Chief of the Macomb County Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Units, along with Christoper Coyle, former Chief of the Wayne County Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Units, bring that uncommon combination of prosecutorial insight and relentless defense advocacy to clients facing charges in Oakland County’s 48th District Court and the 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac. Our Bloomfield Hills child pornography defense attorneys have the most experience available to help you.

Michigan’s Child Sexually Abusive Material Statute 

Michigan prosecutes all child pornography–related conduct under MCL 750.145c. The statute criminalizes more than simple possession: it punishes any knowing act of producing, financing, photographing, distributing, promoting, or even merely accessing an image that depicts a minor engaged in sexual activity, or a depiction that “appears to include” a minor. Prosecutors do not have to prove you knew the precise age of the person in the file; it is enough if a reasonable adult would question the age and you failed to verify it. If charges or under investigation, it is paramount you hire an experienced Michigan child pornography defense lawyer right away.

Key categories include: 

• Production or Financing: arranging, filming, or coercing a minor to create a visual depiction. 
• Distribution or Promotion: sharing through cloud drives, e-mail, peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, or social media. 
• Possession, Viewing, or Accessing: knowingly storing or streaming illicit content—even if the file never finishes downloading. 

Because every graphic or video can be charged separately, a single investigation often balloons into dozens of felony counts, dramatically increasing sentencing exposure. 

Penalties and Sentencing Guidelines in State Court 

Michigan’s advisory sentencing guidelines add or subtract points for factors such as the number of images, the presence of sadomasochistic content, the victim’s age, and the prior record. By attacking guideline scoring—often inflated by law enforcement miscounts—Nicole Blank Becker and Christopher Coyle can shift a client from a prison-cell recommendation to a community-based sentencing grid.  

What the Jury Must Hear—and the State Must Prove 

Before jurors may convict, judges instruct them under M Crim JI 20.38 series. The prosecution must establish beyond a reasonable doubt that: 

• The defendant knowingly possessed, produced, or distributed the file, 
• The file depicts, or reasonably appears to depict, a child, 
• The material is sexually abusive as defined in the statute, and 
• The defendant knew, should have known, or disregarded a substantial risk that the individual was under 18.

Mastery of these instructions matters. A single missing word, such as proof of “knowing” possession, can form the basis of a directed verdict or an appellate reversal. Having drafted and delivered these very instructions as a prosecutor, Nicole and Chris use them to dismantle the state’s case from voir dire through closing argument.  

Digital Forensics Investigations in Oakland County 

Most Bloomfield Hills cases begin with a cyber-tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) after a cloud service, such as Google Photos or Dropbox, flags suspect files. Alternatively, Michigan State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) detectives monitor P2P networks for known hash values, trace an IP address to a home on Maple or Quarton, and draft a search warrant. 

When officers and the Oakland County Cyber Crimes Unit execute the warrant, they seize every device in sight, phones, tablets, external drives, and even smart-home hubs. Forensic analysts create cryptographic “hash” copies and compare them to NCMEC’s contraband database. A single match can generate multiple charges. 

Blank Law, PC partners with independent examiners certified in EnCase and Cellebrite to audit each step: 

• Probable-Cause Review – Did detectives rely on stale IP data or VPN-masked addresses? 
• Scope Overreach – Did they open files outside the warrant’s timeframe or protected by attorney-client privilege? 
• Contamination & Misattribution – Were thumbnail caches or unsolicited downloads counted as intentional possession? 

If the defense exposes an unconstitutional search, the court must suppress the tainted evidence, often collapsing the prosecution’s case.  

Effective Defense Strategies 

A successful defense rarely hinges on a single argument; it blends technical, constitutional, and human-factor theories: 

• Lack of Knowing Possession – Malware, remote-desktop intrusions, or a family member may be the true culprit. 
• Illicit Search Tactics – Warrantless previews or dragnet hash scans can violate the Fourth Amendment. 
• Age & Lasciviousness Challenges – Photoshop, AI-generated images, or ambiguous content may not meet statutory thresholds. 
• Guideline Mitigation – Therapeutic intervention, polygraph confirmation, and psychosexual evaluations can reduce scoring. 
• Plea Re-characterization – Negotiating to a non-registry offense like computer-use crimes preserves the future. 

Nicole and Chris develop each strategy after an exhaustive review of discovery, expert reports, and the client’s life story, crafting a defense narrative that resonates with Bloomfield Hills jurors.  

Federal Exposure: Eastern District of Michigan 

If Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) or the FBI Cyber Task Force believe the material crossed state lines, or if large P2P libraries are involved, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Detroit may “adopt” the case. Under 18 U.S.C. § 2252A, mandatory minimums can range from 5 to 25 years, with lifelong supervised release. Early intervention by an attorney licensed in federal court can sometimes keep the matter in state jurisdiction, where sentencing alternatives like youthful-trainee status remain on the table. Nicole Blank Becker is admitted to the Eastern District and regularly handles federal detention hearings on Lafayette Boulevard.  

The Bloomfield Hills Court Process 

All felony charges originate in the 48th District Court, located at 4280 Telegraph Road, two miles from downtown Bloomfield Hills. The court oversees arraignment, bond, and the preliminary examinations, where the defense can cross-examine detectives and challenge probable cause. If the case is bound over, it proceeds to the 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac for motions, plea negotiations, and trial. Each judge, whether in district or circuit,  
Has distinct preferences for evidence-suppression briefs, sentencing memoranda, and electronic-tether conditions. Blank Law, PC’s long-standing presence in Oakland County means filings are tailored to satisfy those local nuances. 

Local resources also influence outcomes: 

• Trauma assessments at Oakland Family Services can help mitigate the impact of trauma. 
• Sexual-behavior therapy through River’s Edge Counseling demonstrates proactive rehabilitation. 
• Community-based tether monitoring allows many clients to remain employed while awaiting trial.  

Collateral Consequences and Why They Matter 

Beyond prison or probation, a child-pornography conviction triggers mandatory registration under the Sex Offenders Registration Act (SORA). Tier II or III status, often public for 15 years to life, restricts residency at certain places, bans particular employment, and complicates routine travel. Homeowners in gated Bloomfield estates may face HOA bylaws requiring eviction. Parents risk losing custody in Oakland County Family Court; non-citizens face ICE detainers and deportation. 

Because Nicole and Chris understand these ripple effects, they structure resolutions to limit or eliminate registration whenever legally defensible. Even when the registry is unavoidable, she guides clients regarding SORA compliance, international Travel Rule filings, and petitioning for early removal when statute changes permit.  

Nicole Blank Becker: Prosecutor-Turned-Defender 

No law-school class can substitute for years spent watching forensic interviews, interviewing child witnesses, and arguing sex-crimes jury trials from the state’s side of the aisle. Nicole and Chris’ earlier roles as Chiefs of the Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Units mean that they: 

• knows which digital forensics experts stand up under cross-examination, 
• understands how Oakland County jurors perceive sensitive exhibits, and 
• anticipates prosecution strategy before the first pretrial conference. 

Nicole’s track record has earned recognition from Super Lawyers, the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, and news outlets covering high-profile cases. Yet what clients value most is her balanced approach: fierce in the courtroom, empathetic in private consultations, and always committed to safeguarding a client’s dignity.  

Immediate Steps if Police Contact You 

• Stay Silent and Polite: Decline interviews, even “off the record” and request legal counsel. 
• Record Investigator Details: Names, badge numbers, and conversation notes help reconstruct timelines. 
• Retain Defense Counsel Quickly: Early advocacy can influence charging decisions and preserve favorable evidence stored by third-party tech companies. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Will my name appear in the Detroit Free Press or local blogs? 
Media outlets regularly review Oakland County dockets. Through strategic timing and discreet negotiations, it is sometimes possible to resolve or reduce charges before public filings occur. When exposure is inevitable, Blank Law, PC, will ensure that we stay on the offense and limit reputational harm. 

Can I get my computer back? 
Michigan courts may order non-contraband data returned after forensic imaging. Prompt defense motions ensure family photos and business records are restored before irreparable financial or emotional loss occurs. The police typically hold onto computers and cell phones until the case is resolved. However, if there is illegal activity, i.e., child pornography, you may not be able to get any of your electronics back.  

Is probation real in a child pornography case? 
Yes. First-time possession cases with small image counts, low sentencing grid scores, and proactive treatment plans may receive lighter sentences. Even distribution charges occasionally end in “split” sentences, jail weekends, or tethering, after robust mitigation. 

What if the files were cartoons or AI creations? 
Michigan criminalizes depictions that “appear” to involve children, but First Amendment protections remain evolving. Expert testimony on synthetic imagery and deep-fake technology can introduce reasonable doubt on the “real minor” element.  

The Blank Law, PC Commitment 

From the moment agents knock on your door to the day a jury returns its verdict, Blank Law, PC stands between you and the full power of the government. We promise: 

• Exhaustive forensic analysis of every byte and log file. 
• Tailored litigation strategy balancing constitutional motions, evidentiary challenges, and negotiation leverage. 
• Respectful, confidential counsel that treats each client as a whole person, not a headline. 

An IP address or a mis-clicked download should not define your life. Let our courtroom experience and prosecutorial insight safeguard your future.  

Contact Blank Law, PC Today 

If you, your spouse, or your child faces child pornography allegations in Bloomfield Hills or anywhere in Oakland County, call (248) 515-6583 for a confidential consultation, or submit an inquiry on our encrypted form online 24/7. Early, decisive action is the best defense. Put former prosecutors Nicole Blank Becker, Christoper Coyle, and the Blank Law, PC team to work protecting what matters most: your freedom, your reputation, and your family’s peace of mind.