(a) A person is guilty of possessing child sexual abuse material in the second degree when such person knowingly possesses (1) twenty or more but fewer than fifty visual depictions of child sexual abuse material, or (2) a series of images in electronic, digital or other format, which is intended to be displayed continuously, consisting of twenty or more frames, or a film or videotape, consisting of twenty or more frames, that depicts a single act of sexually explicit conduct by one child.
(b) In any prosecution for an offense under this section, it shall be an affirmative defense that the acts of the defendant, if proven, would constitute a violation of section 53a-196h.
(c) Possessing child sexual abuse material in the second degree is a class C felony and any person found guilty under this section shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of which two years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court.
(P.A. 04-139, S. 5; P.A. 07-143, S. 9; P.A. 10-191, S. 3; P.A. 14-192, S. 2; P.A. 24-118, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 07-143 amended Subsec. (b) to require any person found guilty to be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of which 2 years of the sentence imposed may not be suspended or reduced by the court, effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 10-191 added new Subsec. (b) re affirmative defense and redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c); P.A. 14-192 amended Subsec. (a) to designate existing provision re possession of 20 or more but fewer than 50 visual depictions as Subdiv. (1) and add Subdiv. (2) re possession of series of images in electronic, digital or other format, intended to be displayed continuously, or a film or videotape; P.A. 24-118 replaced references to “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material” throughout.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
10
cases (
5 in the last 5 years), 2006–2026 · leading case:
State v. Sawyer, 335 Conn. 29 (Conn. 2020).
State v. Sawyer, 335 Conn. 29 (Conn. 2020).
· cites it 4× “The defendant, Thomas William Saw- yer, was convicted on a conditional plea of nolo conten- dere; see General Statutes § 54-94a; of possession of child pornography in the second degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-196e. The defendant entered his plea following the…”
State v. Berger, 134 P.3d 378 (Ariz. 2006).
· cites it 2× “); Conn. Gen.Stat. Ann. §§ 53a-196e, -35a (West, Westlaw through 2006 Supp.”
State v. Hanisko, 202 A.3d 375 (Conn. App. Ct. 2019).
· cites it 5× “to 2009) § 53a-196e. 1 On appeal, the defendant claims that (1) the trial court improperly denied his motion to suppress evidence seized pursuant to a search and seizure warrant (search warrant) because the information contained in the search warrant affidavit was stale at the…”
State v. Imperiale, 337 Conn. 694 (Conn. 2021).
· cites it 2× “1 General Statutes § 53a-196e provides in relevant part: ‘‘(a) A person is guilty of possessing child pornography in the second degree when such person knowingly possesses (1) twenty or more but fewer than fifty visual depictions of child pornography .”
State v. Dore (Conn. App. Ct. 2026).
· cites it 52× “to 2015) § 53a-196e (a) (2)), the defendant appealed.”
State v. Henderson, 60 A.3d 294 (Conn. App. Ct. 2013).
““(2) Promoting an obscene performance or obscene material under section 53a-196 or 53a-196b, employing a minor in an obscene performance under section 53a-196a, importing child pornography under section 53a-196c, possessing child pornography in the first degree -under section…”
State v. Stocking, 26 A.3d 117 (Conn. App. Ct. 2011).
· cites it 2× “The record reflects the following relevant procedural history. On July 28,2009, the defendant appeared before the court and pleaded guilty under the Alford doctrine to one count of possession of child pornography in the second degree.”
State v. Joseph V., 345 Conn. 516 (Conn. 2022).
· cites it 2× “f such child is endangered, the health of such child is likely to be injured or the morals of such child are likely to be impaired, or does any act likely to impair the health or morals of any such child’’); General Statutes § 53-142k (b) (1) (larceny by shoplifting of retail…”
State v. Joseph V. (Conn. 2022).
· cites it 2× “f such child is endangered, the health of such child is likely to be injured or the morals of such child are likely to be impaired, or does any act likely to impair the health or morals of any such child’’); General Statutes § 53-142k (b) (1) (larceny by shoplifting of retail…”
State v. Skyes (Conn. App. Ct. 2025).
“In 2016, the defendant was released from incarceration and began serving his term of probation.”
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