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The internet can be a risky place. Our identities are hardly private anymore. For one 32-year-old, his internet use led to criminal charges. Apparently, he was accused of soliciting two children online for sex. The 32-year-old man pretended to be a young teenage male trying to meet young girls. The two girls involved said the man asked them for sex, and one of them was asked for nude pictures of herself. In Jefferson and Denver County, and across Colorado, these actions lead to criminal charges of Internet Luring of a Child.

[pullquote align=”center” textalign=”center” width=”100%”]I believe internet sex crimes are often dealt with harshly by the police and the DA's.[/pullquote]

Douglas County Internet Luring of a Child

Internet Luring of a Child, C.R.S. 18-3-306, is charged in Douglas and Adams County when a person knowingly communicates with a child he or she knows or believes to be less than fifteen years of age – for sexual purposes. The communication would have to be over a computer or computer network, telephone network, data network, or by text message or instant message. The person would also have to be more than four years older than the child, and would have to make a statement in that communication describing explicit sexual conduct.  In connection with that description, the actor would need to persuade or invite the child to to meet the child for any purpose. The man in this story likely knew the girls were under fifteen years of age since he pretended to be a teen boy asking for sex. He also qualifies for being at least four years older than the girls, which makes it likely he would face charges of Internet Luring of a Child.

Arapahoe County Colorado Internet Luring of a Child: All Cases Are Different

[pullquote align=”left|center|right” textalign=”left” width=”40%”]A suggested meeting doesn't have to occur for Internet Luring of a Child charges to be filed.[/pullquote]The hard part for me in this statute is how Internet Luring of a Child is charged in Arapahoe and Denver County. For example, suggesting a meeting of any kind to a child that someone knows or believes is under fifteen years old, following a description of explicit sexual conduct, is enough for these sex crime charges to be filed. In other words, no meeting with a child needs to occur for someone to be charged with this crime. Yet, I think of people who change their minds about meeting a child, but the damage has already been done. They've suggested a meeting and that's enough to file charges. Take another example, like police stings for instance. Sometimes, police stings influence someone to make statements of a sexual nature. Police will pretend to be a child and lead people into a sexual discussion, which can lead to a sex crime people may not have otherwise committed. Then, charges will be filed. Luckily, many times an expert criminal defense attorney may use the defense of “Entrapment” in these cases. While I'm not supporting internet sex crimes, I do believe they are often dealt with harshly by the police and District Attorneys.

Why You Need the Best Denver Sex Crime Defense Attorneys

Internet Luring of a Child is a sex offense in Denver and El Paso County, and requires sex offender registration and treatment upon conviction. It's also charged as a class 4 felony across Colorado, meaning someone could face up to 6 years in prison. Because the consequences of this crime are harsh, it's crucial to involve a criminal defense lawyer early on. If you or someone you know is facing sex crime charges, contact our attorneys to speak with us 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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If contacted by police about Internet Luring of a Child, exercise your right to remain silent and call the O'Malley Law Office at 303-830-0880 or fill out the “Get Help Now” form on the side of this page. Together, we can protect your future.