Florida Statute §847.0135 | Classification: Second-Degree Felony
What Is This Charge?
This charge applies to any person who uses electronic communication to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice a minor (or a person believed to be a minor) to engage in unlawful sexual conduct, and then travels or attempts to travel to meet that person.
Penalties & Fines
-
Up to 15 years in Florida state prison
-
Up to 15 years of probation
-
Up to $10,000 in fines
-
Mandatory lifetime sex offender registration
-
Lifetime residency restrictions
-
Lifetime employment restrictions
-
Federal charges under 18 U.S.C. § 2422 carry mandatory minimums of 10 years to life
Additional Consequences
-
Permanent loss of civil rights
-
Immigration consequences — permanent bar and deportation
-
Complete prohibition on contact with minors
-
Lifelong social and professional consequences
Possible Defenses
-
Entrapment — law enforcement created the crime that would not have otherwise occurred
-
You did not believe the person was a minor
-
No actual travel occurred — the attempt element was not met
-
The online communications did not constitute solicitation under the statute
-
Mistaken identity — another person used your device or account
Why You Need a Defense Attorney
Virtually all of these cases arise from law enforcement sting operations where an officer poses as a minor online. Entrapment is a viable and frequently successful defense when police conduct exceeded appropriate bounds. An attorney will scrutinize every communication, assess the law enforcement conduct, and challenge every element immediately.
Call today for a free consultation: (813) 888-8888 | Email: [email protected]
Serving Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, and Polk Counties. Virtual consultations available.