I have extensive experience in defending traveling to meet a minor cases in Orange County and Seminole County. I examine each traveling to meet a minor case for a lack of evidence or conflict in evidence that would support not filing formal criminal charges. It is important that you start building your defense immediately after your arrest. Hiring an experienced traveling to meet a minor lawyer is essential. Once hired, I will:
1. Collect and review all written statements, photographs and 911 calls;
2. Find flaws in the police officer’s investigation;
3. Identify all possible defenses;
4. Immediately start negotiating with the prosecutor not to file formal charges, and
5. Do whatever is necessary to avoid a felony sex conviction.
EARLY REPRESENTATION CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
Early representation can often times convince your prosecutor to not file formal charges against you. It is important to start preparing your best defense as soon as possible, well before your first court date. Important facts in your case to consider are:
- Was any of the evidence collected against you illegally obtained?
- Were you lied to, tricked, or entrapped by law enforcement?
- Did you abandon the crime?
- Is identity an issue? Do they have the wrong person?
- Were you read your Miranda rights? Were your statements illegally obtained?
- Are there other factors or motivations that show your lack of intent to commit a crime?
WHAT IS TRAVELING TO MEET A MINOR
In Florida, traveling to meet a minor is the offense of traveling or attempting to travel to engage in unlawful sexual conduct after using an electronic device or online service to seduce, entice, or solicit a child. Florida Statute 847.0135(4) criminalizes traveling to meet a minor for the purpose of engaging in sexual intercourse after using a computer to solicit the child. The statute defines the term “child” to mean any person, whose identity is known or unknown, less than 18 years of age.
HOW IS TRAVELING TO MEET A MINOR PROVEN IN FLORIDA
The Florida standard jury instructions for traveling to meet a minor require the State to prove the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt:
- Defendant used a(n) computer on-line servic, Internet service, local bulletin board service, and/or device capable of electronic data storage or transmission to solicit, lure, entice, and/or attempt to solicit, lure, and/or entice a parent, legal guardian, custodian and/or a person believed by the defendant to be a parent, legal guardian, and/or custodian of a child to consent for the child/person believed by the defendant to be a child to participate in sexual conduct.
- Defendant then traveled, attempted to travel, caused another to travel, and/or attempted to cause another to travel within this state, to this state, and/or from this state for the purpose of engaging in any unlawful sexual conductwith a child or a person believed by the defendant to be a child.
PENALTIES FOR TRAVELING TO MEET A MINOR
Traveling to meet a minor is a very serious felony sex offense. It is a second degree felony, punishable by up to fifteen years in prison, fifteen years of probation, and a $10,000 fine, and carries a minimum mandatory twenty-one month prison sentence.
Other penalties include:
- Permanent criminal conviction
- Community control, house arrest or supervised probation
- Register as a sex offender
- Psycho-sexual evaluation
DEFENSES FOR TRAVELING TO MEET A MINOR
Florida recognizes several valid defenses for traveling to meet a minor. These defenses include:
- Entrapment
- Lack of seduction, solicitation, luring, or enticement
- Abandonment
- The victim was not a minor
CALL AN EXPERIENCED SEX CRIMES DEFENSE LAWYER
If you have been accused of or arrested for a sex crime contact my experienced central Florida criminal defense lawyer to discuss your case and how I can help you. I offer a free confidential consultations to all prospective clients. In addition to keeping extended business hours, my office is open every Saturday. Call 407-740-7275 to speak directly with me.
I have extensive experience in defending traveling to meet a minor cases in Orange County and Seminole County. I examine each traveling to meet a minor case for a lack of evidence or conflict in evidence that would support not filing formal criminal charges. It is important that you start building your defense immediately after your arrest. Hiring an experienced traveling to meet a minor lawyer is essential. Once hired, I will:
1. Collect and review all written statements, photographs and 911 calls;
2. Find flaws in the police officer’s investigation;
3. Identify all possible defenses;
4. Immediately start negotiating with the prosecutor not to file formal charges, and
5. Do whatever is necessary to avoid a felony sex conviction.
EARLY REPRESENTATION CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
Early representation can often times convince your prosecutor to not file formal charges against you. It is important to start preparing your best defense as soon as possible, well before your first court date. Important facts in your case to consider are:
- Was any of the evidence collected against you illegally obtained?
- Were you lied to, tricked, or entrapped by law enforcement?
- Did you abandon the crime?
- Is identity an issue? Do they have the wrong person?
- Were you read your Miranda rights? Were your statements illegally obtained?
- Are there other factors or motivations that show your lack of intent to commit a crime?
WHAT IS TRAVELING TO MEET A MINOR
In Florida, traveling to meet a minor is the offense of traveling or attempting to travel to engage in unlawful sexual conduct after using an electronic device or online service to seduce, entice, or solicit a child. Florida Statute 847.0135(4) criminalizes traveling to meet a minor for the purpose of engaging in sexual intercourse after using a computer to solicit the child. The statute defines the term “child” to mean any person, whose identity is known or unknown, less than 18 years of age.
HOW IS TRAVELING TO MEET A MINOR PROVEN IN FLORIDA
The Florida standard jury instructions for traveling to meet a minor require the State to prove the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt:
- Defendant used a(n) computer on-line servic, Internet service, local bulletin board service, and/or device capable of electronic data storage or transmission to solicit, lure, entice, and/or attempt to solicit, lure, and/or entice a parent, legal guardian, custodian and/or a person believed by the defendant to be a parent, legal guardian, and/or custodian of a child to consent for the child/person believed by the defendant to be a child to participate in sexual conduct.
- Defendant then traveled, attempted to travel, caused another to travel, and/or attempted to cause another to travel within this state, to this state, and/or from this state for the purpose of engaging in any unlawful sexual conductwith a child or a person believed by the defendant to be a child.
PENALTIES FOR TRAVELING TO MEET A MINOR
Traveling to meet a minor is a very serious felony sex offense. It is a second degree felony, punishable by up to fifteen years in prison, fifteen years of probation, and a $10,000 fine, and carries a minimum mandatory twenty-one month prison sentence.
Other penalties include:
- Permanent criminal conviction
- Community control, house arrest or supervised probation
- Register as a sex offender
- Psycho-sexual evaluation
DEFENSES FOR TRAVELING TO MEET A MINOR
Florida recognizes several valid defenses for traveling to meet a minor. These defenses include:
- Entrapment
- Lack of seduction, solicitation, luring, or enticement
- Abandonment
- The victim was not a minor
CALL AN EXPERIENCED SEX CRIMES DEFENSE LAWYER
If you have been accused of or arrested for a sex crime contact my experienced central Florida criminal defense lawyer to discuss your case and how I can help you. I offer a free confidential consultations to all prospective clients. In addition to keeping extended business hours, my office is open every Saturday. Call 407-740-7275 to speak directly with me.
