Government workers tend to lose sight of the sinful nature of children. We need to remember that children are capable of lying, and their imaginations are fueled by the media, making their lies even more believable. This may seem heartless, but when children lie about sexual encounters, people go to prison for the rest of their lives. Because of this, we understand how important it is to ask kids difficult questions to uncover the truth in Enticement of a Child cases in Denver, Jefferson, and Adams County.

Enticement of a Child: It Takes One Lie to be Arrested

All it takes to be arrested for Enticement of a Child – C.R.S. 18-3-305 is one lie. If a child under the age of 15 says that a man invited them to meet for a sexual purpose, the police will make an arrest. One child's statement is all that is needed to file charges in Arapahoe, Douglas, and Larimer County.

Children and the Media are Constant Companions

Children are exposed to the media at an alarming rate. The average 8 to 18-year-old spends almost 8 hours a day consuming media (watching TV, listening to music, surfing the internet, playing video games, watching movies, and reading magazines). When multi-tasking is considered (many people surf Facebook while watching TV), the number rises to almost 11 hours a day. This doesn't include talking on the phone or texting. When this is taken into account, kids spend 90 hours a week consuming media.

[pullquote align=”center” textalign=”center” width=”60%”]Kids spend 90 hours a week consuming media. [/pullquote]

The Media and Sex: Children's Behavior is Influenced

Studies have shown that teens who consume media which discusses sex are more than twice as likely to have early sexual intercourse as kids who rarely consume such media. A recent study illustrates how 12 to 14-year-olds who were exposed to sexual content in movies, magazines, music, and on TV were 2.2 times “more likely to have had sexual intercourse when re-interviewed two years later then their peers who had a lighter sexual media diet.” Since kids today are consuming media full-time, the impact it has on their minds is disturbing.

[pullquote align=”center” textalign=”center” width=”60%”]Movies, TV, and music are becoming more and more sexual, which affects children's behavior. [/pullquote]

Children Lie to Get what they Want and Use Knowledge They Get from the Media

We have worked on many cases in El Paso, Pueblo, and Lincoln County where children have falsely accused our clients of trying to engage in sexual assault. If children who consume more sexualized media are more likely to engage in sex themselves, how many more are willing to make false accusations? Often, government workers and Victims Right's Advocates ask us how a child could make accusations about specific sexual behavior unless they had experienced it. In our world, this logic doesn't work. Children watch TV shows with sex scenes and listen to explicit music on a daily basis. Kids aren't stupid. They know making allegations about sexual encounters will get them the attention they want. We have seen situations where children use accusations as a tool to wedge between their parents during a divorce, or to get back at a stepdad they don't like. In some cases, the children are victims of other people in their past, and they accuse falsely someone else of the crime to get the attention they need. By letting lies slip, kids don't get the help they need, and innocent people go to prison.

[pullquote align=”center” textalign=”center” width=”80%”]Kids make false accusations for many reasons. Ignoring the truth hurts them as well as the person they accused. [/pullquote]

Why You Need an Experienced Attorney if You Have Been Accused

If you have been accused of Enticement of a Child, don't hesitate to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney. The criminal lawyers at our office understand the importance of asking the difficult questions. We fight hard to uncover the truth and get justice for our clients. Don't try to fight this battle alone – work with an attorney who has a passion for the truth and for fighting for our clients in court.

Request a Free Consultation

Children lie for many reasons. If you or a loved one is facing accusations of Enticement of a Child in Glendale, Thornton, or Aurora, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at the O'Malley Law Office for a free consultation at 303-830-0880, or submit the “Get Help Now” form.
Together, we can protect your future.

Image courtesy of Teerapun / FreeDigitalPhotos.net