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Computer-Aided Solicitation of a Minor Attorney
Call Us | 318-377-1555
Computer-Aided Solicitation of a Minor in Shreveport, Bossier City, Monroe, & Ruston, LA
Television shows and online videos depicting adults posing as minors to catch internet predators have exploded in popularity over the past decade. Despite the popularity of these depictions, they often discount the fact that illicit methods of entrapment and deception are used to trick otherwise law-abiding adults into doing things that lead to life-altering criminal charges.
A conviction for computer-aided solicitation of a minor not only carries with it stiff legal penalties but also results in a permanent stain on a person’s reputation and mandatory registration as a sex offender in the state of Louisiana. An accusation doesn’t have to end in a conviction with the right Louisiana criminal defense attorney. With a better understanding of the crime, defendants can recognize when they need a solid legal defense.
What is Online Solicitation of a Minor?
Under Louisiana state law, computer-aided solicitation of a minor, is defined as the following:
“Computer-aided solicitation of a minor is committed when a person seventeen years of age or older knowingly contacts or communicates, through the use of electronic textual communication, with a person who has not yet attained the age of seventeen, where there is an age difference of greater than two years, or a person reasonably believed to have not yet attained the age of seventeen and reasonably believed to be at least two years younger, for the purpose of or with the intent to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce the person to engage or participate in sexual conduct or a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B), or with the intent to engage or participate in sexual conduct in the presence of the person who has not yet attained the age of seventeen, or person reasonably believed to have not yet attained the age of seventeen.”
Penalties for online solicitation of a minor include fines of up to $10,000 or imprisonment at a minimum of five years and no more than 10 years.
Defenses Against Online Solicitation of a Minor
Defending against charges of online solicitation of a minor is dependent on a few factors. Law enforcement often makes arrests based on probable cause, which is a far less stringent probability of guilt than beyond a reasonable doubt, the minimum criterion needed to convict someone of a criminal offense.
There are a few common ways law enforcement engages in entrapment to arrest someone charged with online solicitation of a minor:
Entrapment and Enticement: If law enforcement aggressively entices or entraps a defendant, there may be an unlawful arrest that results from it.
Deceptive Profiles: Law enforcement and independent investigative organizations create false internet personas intended to catch internet predators. These profiles can be deceptive and confuse otherwise law-abiding people into mistakenly contacting minors.
If a defendant is accused of solicitation of a minor online, law enforcement can intimidate and shame him or her into admitting or confessing to a crime he or she otherwise didn’t intend to commit. If you face a similar situation, this is when you need an experienced and competent criminal defense attorney.
Fight Your Computer-Aided Solicitation of a Minor Charge
Attorney Eric Johnson of the John D. & Eric G. Johnson Law Firm has more than 27 years of experience defending those accused in state and federal criminal cases. With the increased use of social media and other online services, we are on top of the latest legislation as it relates to charges for online solicitation of a minor.
We have the know-how and the confidence to give you the legal defense you deserve. Let our experienced team fight for you in court. To schedule a free case review, call us at 24/7 at 318-377-1555 or complete our online contact form today.
