In Greeley, someone will be accused of Internet Luring of a Child when they have made sexually explicit comments online to a child, and they have requested to meet the child in person. Police stings are common with internet chats as officers pretend to be kids who appear interested in sexual topics of discussion. A New York Times article warns how many of these popular videogames are ‘Hunting Grounds’ for sexual predators. That means that when you’re an adult who plays these games with younger kids, your actions can easily be misconstrued for Internet Luring of a Child if you’re not careful. Videogame chats can be a dangerous place for children with real predators, and adults, with kids desperate for drama in their life who falsely accuse others of Internet Luring.
What is Internet Luring of a Child, C.R.S. 18-3-306,
in Weld County?
In Weld County, Internet Luring of a Child, C.R.S. 18-3-306, occurs when:
This statute contains a ton of information, and needs to be broken down further. Anytime you’re charged with a crime in Greeley or Weld County, it is vital to understand what you’re being charged with. In about 80% of these cases, there is no real child involved. Police stings involve officers pretending to be a child of 13 or 14, and they direct the course of conversations toward sexual matters, and then toward a meeting.
Understanding Police Stings & Internet Luring of a Child
in Greeley
To understand police stings and the crime of Internet Luring of a Child in Greeley after your arrest, we need to break the statute down into easier to understand concepts. Our criminal defense attorneys know that Greeley police will set up police stings and then charge you with Internet Luring of a Child if you’re communicating with a real or pretend child younger than 15 years old about sexually explicit items – plus more. The actor must also initiate some sort of meet up in person. It does not matter if the meeting actually happens or not, just that it was set up. Finally, it is important to note that the actor must be at least 4 years older than the child for this crime to stick.
Let me provide an example, similar to the article mentioned earlier. A 25-year-old messages a 13-year-old, through their Fortnite chat. The age of the child is unmistakable. The adult is friendly until eventually mentioning something about sex or about the child sending nude photos. It escalates to the adult initiating some kind of in-person meet up with the child. The adult in that scenario has now committed Internet Luring of a Child. The meeting does not have to occur for this crime to be charged, and is therefore, not a defense.
Sentence for Internet Luring of a Child in Windsor,
Evans, and Johnstown
In Windsor, Evans, and Johnstown, Internet Luring of a Child can be sentenced in two ways. If the defendant has been convicted of the scenario above, they are convicted of a class 5 felony. If the defendant is guilty of the above scenario, plus found to be planning the meeting to engage in “sexual exploitation” or “sexual contact,” the sentence is elevated to a class 4 felony.
When a defendant is facing a class 4 felony conviction for Internet Luring of a Child, they’re also facing Indeterminate Sentencing. This means that, if convicted, the defendant would serve their prison or probation minimum, and then they would basically wait to be released. They could potentially spend the rest of their life in DOC or on probation, as there is no clear end to their prison or probation sentence. Also, the defendant would need to begin Registering as a Sex Offender. This means providing police with almost every aspect about themselves and having it be available to the public.
Entrapment as a Defense to Internet Luring of a Child in Weld County and Morgan County
When police in Weld County and Morgan County conduct these stings, police entrapment is a common defense for Internet Luring of a Child. If the police lead you to into saying certain incriminating statements, Entrapment is a viable defense. Entrapment is a terrific defense because the DA cannot push a prosecution when police officers have led someone in a ‘trap’ to say what the police are looking for people to say. Call us today if you think the police have used this unfair tactic against you.
Accusations of Internet Luring inside Videogame Chats in Greeley, Milliken, and Firestone
Talking to younger kids via videogame chats can lead to accusations of Internet Luring of a Child in Greeley, Milliken, and Firestone. Many of these popular videogames are popular with adults and children, allowing those connections, appropriate or not, to be made. We recommend to always be weary of what you’re saying and to whom, when you connect online. Never initiate an in-person meeting, especially if that person is a young child, as this is how accusations of Internet Luring arise.
Police Sting and Accused of Internet Luring of a Child in Greeley or Weld County?
If you’re facing allegations of Internet Luring of a Child in Greeley or Weld County from a police sting or a real child, call the O’Malley Law Office today.
Accusations of Internet Luring of a Child are incredibly serious. You face prison time, Indeterminate Sentencing, Registering as a Sex Offender, and everything else that having a felony conviction comes with. Don’t leave your future up to fate, contact our experienced criminal defense lawyers today.
Call 970-616-6009 or fill out the Get Help Now form to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced Sex Crimes Lawyers in the Greeley and Weld County area today.
Together, we can protect your future.
Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash