2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 14:81.1 — Pornography involving juveniles

§81.1.  Pornography involving juveniles

A.  Pornography involving juveniles is any of the following:

(1)  The photographing, videotaping, filming, or otherwise reproducing visually of any sexual performance involving a child under the age of seventeen.

(2)  The solicitation, promotion, or coercion of any child under the age of seventeen for the purpose of photographing, videotaping, filming, or otherwise reproducing visually any sexual performance involving a child under the age of seventeen.

(3)  The intentional possession, sale, distribution, or possession with intent to sell or distribute of any photographs, films, videotapes, or other visual reproductions of any sexual performance involving a child under the age of seventeen.

(4)  The consent of a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a child under the age of seventeen for the purpose of photographing, videotaping, filming, or otherwise reproducing visually any sexual performance involving the child.

B.  For purposes of this Section the following definitions shall apply:

(1)  "Sexual performance" means any performance or part thereof that includes sexual conduct involving a child under the age of seventeen.

(2)  "Performance" means any play, motion picture, photograph, dance, or other visual presentation.

(3)  "Sexual conduct" means actual or simulated sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, sexual bestiality, masturbation, sadomasochistic abuse, or lewd exhibition of the genitals.

(4)  "Promote" means to procure, manufacture, issue, sell, give, provide, lend, mail, deliver, transfer, transmute, publish, distribute, circulate, disseminate, prevent, exhibit, or advertise, or to offer or agree to do the same.

C.  Possession of three or more of the same photographs, films, videotapes, or other visual reproductions shall be prima facie evidence of intent to sell or distribute.

D.  Lack of knowledge of the juvenile's age shall not be a defense.

E.(1)  Whoever commits the crime of pornography involving juveniles shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars and be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than two years or more than ten years, without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.

(2)  Whoever commits the crime of pornography involving juveniles by violating the provisions of Paragraph (A)(2) of this Section on a victim under the age of thirteen years when the offender is seventeen years of age or older, shall be punished by imprisonment at hard labor for not less than twenty-five years nor more than life imprisonment.  At least twenty-five years of the sentence imposed shall be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.

(3)  Upon completion of the term of imprisonment imposed in accordance with Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, the offender shall be monitored by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections through the use of electronic monitoring equipment for the remainder of his natural life.

(4)  Unless it is determined by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, pursuant to rules adopted in accordance with the provisions of this Subsection, that a sexual offender is unable to pay all or any portion of such costs, each sexual offender to be electronically monitored shall pay the cost of such monitoring.

(5)  The costs attributable to the electronic monitoring of an offender who has been determined unable to pay shall be borne by the department if, and only to the degree that sufficient funds are made available for such purpose whether by appropriation of state funds or from any other source.

(6)  The Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall develop, adopt, and promulgate rules in the manner provided in the Administrative Procedure Act, that provide for the payment of such costs.  Such rules shall contain specific guidelines which shall be used to determine the ability of the offender to pay the required costs and shall establish the reasonable costs to be charged.  Such rules may provide for a sliding scale of payment so that an offender who is able to pay a portion, but not all, of such costs may be required to pay such portion.

F.  Any evidence of pornography involving a child under the age of seventeen shall be contraband.  Such contraband shall be seized in accordance with law and shall be disposed of in accordance with R.S. 46:1845.

G.  In prosecutions for violations of this Section, the trier of fact may determine, utilizing the following factors, whether or not the person displayed or depicted in any photograph, videotape, film, or other video reproduction introduced in evidence was under the age of seventeen years at the time of filming or recording:

(1)  The general body growth, bone structure, and bone development of the person.

(2)  The development of pubic or body hair on the person.

(3)  The development of the person's sexual organs.

(4)  The context in which the person is placed or the age attributed to the person in any accompanying video, printed, or text material.

(5)  Available expert testimony and opinion as to the chronological age or degree of physical or mental maturity or development of the person.

(6)  Such other information, factors, and evidence available to the trier of fact which the court determines is probative and reasonably reliable.

Added by Acts 1977, No. 97, §1.  Amended by Acts 1981, No. 502, §1, eff. July 19, 1981, Acts 1983, No. 655, §1; Acts 1986, No. 777, §1; Acts 1992, No. 305, §1; Acts 2003, No. 1245, §1; Acts 2006, No. 103, §1.

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