Solicitation of a Minor Online – What You Need to Know Being accused of soliciting a minor, online or offline, can be a very grave offense. The penalties for this type of crime is strict and can result in you being faced with a permanent record, something that will haunt you for the rest of your life. Before you continue, it's important to understand what solicitation of a minor is. This way you can determine how much trouble you are in and whether you need to call an attorney to represent you sooner rather than later. Solicitation of a minor is defined as “(a) A person is guilty of indecent solicitation of a child if he or she knowingly solicits another person under eighteen (18) years of age or one whom he or she believes is a person under eighteen (18) years of age for the purpose of engaging in an act of prostitution or in any act in violation of chapter 9, 34, or 37 of this title.” o”(b) As used in this section, the word "solicit" or "solicitation" means to command, authorize, urge, incite, request, or advise another to perform an act by any means including, but not limited to, in person, over the phone, in writing, by computer, through the Internet, or by advertisement of any kind.” This means that if you are over the age of eighteen and you ask or participate in conversation with someone under eighteen in a sexual way whether it's via your computer, messages, text messages or a video chat, you are soliciting a minor and you could be faced with serious penalties, that could potentially end your career and future. The serious consequences you need to know about if you are being accused of solicitation of a minor online is that you could be facing five years of imprisonment and you could potentially be registered on the sex offenders list, which will be part of your permanent record. This means every job you apply for, every time you ask for credit or apply for a visa to travel, this will come up. Further, it is also possible that with being on the offenders list and having a permanent record, you may not be able to possess a firearm in the future. When facing charges of solicitation of a minor, it's advisable to secure representation from an experienced and reputable criminal defense attorney as quickly as possible. Before you start, ask yourself are you being accused or have you been arrested? Did you know the other person was under age? Are you currently being portrayed as dangerous? Were you entrapped? In other words did the minor make themselves out to be considerably older than they are, so you were completely
unaware that you were breaking the law? It's important to not mess about with this if you are being accused. Even if you haven't had formal charges laid against you, knowing you are being accused is enough to call in a criminal defense attorney to represent you. This will ensure that the entire process is handled properly and that how this stage is handled will impact your resolution outcome. Be honest with your attorney at all times and discuss the situation with them. If you have witnesses, then ensure you have all their information along with a detailed account of that day and night, so that your lawyer can piece the puzzle tougher and build a case to represent you and argue on your behalf. Always choose a solicitation of a minor lawyer who has experience in this sector of the law, so that they can provide you with the best services.
About Us: John R Grasso is an attorney admitted to practice in Rhode Island, Massachusetts. He is also admitted at the Federal District Courts. He is a member of the Bar of the United States Supreme Court and has an experienced support team working alongside him to help focus on securing a resolution in the shortest period of time. John Grasso represents criminal defendants on misdemeanors and felony charges throughout the area. He handles a wide range of cases on a daily basis from domestic violence cases to immigration disputes and DUI cases to robbery and so much more. To find out more, visit http://www.johngrassolaw.com.