Phoenix Commercial Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Lawyer

Proven Defense for Serious Child Sex Crime Allegations

If you have been charged with commercial sexual exploitation of a minor, or police have seized your phone, computer, accounts, or cloud data, you need a defense attorney now. This is a Class 2 felony in Arizona, and when the allegation involves a minor under 15, prosecutors may pursue Dangerous Crimes Against Children sentencing.

At MayesTelles PLLC, we have secured more than 1,000 acquittals and case dismissals for clients across Arizona, and our team specializes in serious sex crime cases involving child-related allegations.

Why People Call Us in the Face of Serious Felony Charges

MayesTelles is trusted by clients across Arizona to take on the toughest cases. 

When you choose us, you get:

• A team of defense attorneys with 200+ years of combined experience
• Arizona’s #1 Criminal Defense Firm for the last seven years (voted by Ranking Arizona)
• Insight from a former Sex Crimes Unit prosecutor and law enforcement specialist (David Telles)
• A firm that's won thousands of cases, including complete dismissals in DCAC cases
• Bilingual support for Spanish-speaking clients – se habla español

If you were charged, served with a warrant, had devices taken, or were contacted by police, call (602) 428-7104 for a free consultation with our Arizona commercial sexual exploitation attorneys.

What Is Commercial Sexual Exploitation of a Minor in Arizona?

Under A.R.S. § 13-3552, a person commits commercial sexual exploitation of a minor by knowingly using, employing, persuading, enticing, inducing, transporting, or coercing a minor to engage in or assist others in exploitive exhibition or other sexual conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction or live act depicting that conduct. The statute also covers using, employing, persuading, enticing, inducing, or coercing a minor to expose certain intimate body parts for financial or commercial gain. 

The law can also apply to a person who has custody or control of a minor and permits the minor to engage in exploitive exhibition or other sexual conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction or live act. 

In plain terms, this charge often focuses on allegations involving:

• Production of sexual images or videos involving a minor 
• Live acts or visual depictions involving sexual conduct 
• Commercial or financial benefit tied to the alleged conduct 
• Persuasion, inducement, coercion, or use of a minor 
• A person accused of permitting conduct involving a minor under their custody or control 

This charge is different from sexual exploitation of a minor under A.R.S. § 13-3553, which commonly involves recording, filming, photographing, developing, duplicating, distributing, transporting, exhibiting, receiving, selling, purchasing, electronically transmitting, possessing, or accessing visual depictions involving minors. 

Commercial sexual exploitation focuses more directly on causing, using, inducing, or permitting the minor to participate in the conduct that produces the depiction or live act, which may include a financial motive.

Penalties for Commercial Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

In Arizona, commercial sexual exploitation of a minor is a Class 2 felony carrying severe mandatory prison time. When the minor involved is under 15 years of age, sentencing falls under Arizona's DCAC framework, which sets a presumptive term of 20 years for a first offense, with a range of 13 to 27 years.

Prosecutors may file separate counts for each alleged act, image, or incident. When multiple counts are charged, and sentences run consecutively, total exposure can far exceed any individual count's range. Additionally, a prior first-degree DCAC conviction involving commercial sexual exploitation or child sex trafficking can result in a natural life sentence.

Beyond prison time, a conviction requires lifetime sex offender registration and carries lasting consequences for employment, professional licensing, immigration status, family relationships, and reputation.

Federal charges are also possible, especially when federal agencies are involved or allegations concern the production of child sexual abuse material. A first federal offense under 18 U.S.C. § 2251 carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison, independent of any state case. Our team handles both state and federal criminal cases in Arizona.

Why You Should Involve an Attorney Immediately

Commercial sexual exploitation cases often begin before an arrest. A report may come from an online platform, forensic examiner, federal agency, or another person involved in the investigation. Police may serve warrants, seize devices, extract phones, obtain account records, review payment activity, or interview multiple witnesses before charges are filed.

Your defense team will need to examine:

• Whether search warrants were valid and properly limited 
• Whether device extractions and account records are complete 
• Who controlled the phone, account, platform, or payment method 
• Whether messages, images, or metadata are being taken out of context 
• Whether financial activity actually proves a commercial purpose or benefit 

Early defense involvement, particularly in the investigation phase, can help protect statements, preserve favorable evidence, address warrant issues, and communicate with investigators before charging decisions are made.

Call MayesTelles 24/7 to Talk to a Lawyer for Free

If you were arrested, charged, or contacted by police about a pending investigation, our commercial sexual exploitation attorneys in Phoenix can help. We offer free consultations and flexible payment plans and are available 24/7.

Call (602) 428-7104 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation.