Riverside Solicitation of a Minor Defense Attorney

What is Solicitation of a Minor?

Under California Penal Code Section 288.4, solicitation of a minor is arranging a meeting with an individual under the age of 18 for the purpose of engaging in illegal sexual activity. The interaction with the alleged victim commonly occurs over the internet and phone. You can be charged with soliciting a minor even if the alleged victim is not a minor and no sexual contact occurs. If you believe the person is a minor and arrange a meeting for unlawful sex, the prosecution can charge you with solicitation of a minor based on intent. 

Common examples of this are sting operations, which have become more popular due to the rise of the internet. If you chat on the internet with an individual, who says s/he is under 18 but is actually an undercover police officer and you invite the individual to meet you to engage in sexual acts, you can be charged with solicitation of a minor because you intended to commit the crime.

You face life-changing consequences and harsh legal punishment if you’re charged with the solicitation of a minor in Riverside. Aside from being charged by the prosecutor in Riverside, you can also be charged by the federal government, depending on the circumstances of your case. At both levels, charges involving the solicitation of minors are taken very seriously in Riverside, so you must prepare to face aggressive prosecution. If you’re convicted of soliciting a minor, you may spend decades in prison and be required to register as a sex offender. When you’re released, you’ll endure many personal and professional consequences as well. It is possible to avoid these outcomes if you hire a skilled attorney as soon as you are accused of these crimes. 

What The Prosecution Must Prove to Convict You of Soliciting a Minor

For solicitation of a minor, the prosecutor can charge you with either a felony or misdemeanor under PC 288.4, but it is important to note that felony charges are strongly pursued in Riverside as an act of deterrence to future crimes. Being charged with a misdemeanor or felony will depend on the details of your case as well as your criminal record. To convict you of PC 288.4, the prosecution must prove the following facts:

• You arranged a meeting with a minor or person you believed was a minor for the purpose of:
  • Exposing your genitals, pubic, or rectal area 
  • Causing the minor to expose his/her genitals, pubic or rectal area
  • Engaging in lewd or lascivious behavior, which is any inappropriate sexual behavior involving a minor
• Your actions were motivated by an unnatural or abnormal sexual interest in children.
• You traveled to the arranged meeting place at or around the planned time.

Federal Prosecution for Solicitation of a Minor | USC 2422-2423

The Attorney General can charge you with a federal crime for solicitation of a minor. If convicted, you face very harsh consequences. As outlined by USC 24221 and 2423, it is a crime to solicit a minor. To convict you of a federal crime, the federal prosecutor must prove you committed one of the following acts:

• You knowingly persuaded or attempted to induce, entice, or coerce any minor to travel internationally or to another state in order to engage in prostitution or any unlawful sexual activity.
• You used the mail, internet, or another facility to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, or coerce a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity. 
• You knowingly transported a minor internationally or to another state with the purpose of engaging in unlawful sexual activity.
• You knowingly traveled internationally or to another state in order to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

Penalties for Solicitation of a Minor| What You’re Facing

Depending on the facts of your case and your criminal record, prosecutors can charge you with either a misdemeanor or a felony for solicitation of a minor in Riverside. If you have a clean record, the prosecution may charge you with a misdemeanor, but when it comes to sexual acts against minors, felony convictions are often pursued regardless of criminal history. In either case, it is important to consult the experienced defense attorneys at Wallin and Klarich. We will work hard to get your charges reduced or dismissed even before you go to court. The penalties for solicitation of a minor in Riverside are summarized below. 

Misdemeanor Solicitation of a Minor

• Up to 1 year in county jail 
• A maximum fine of up to $5,000
• Registration as a sex offender

Felony Solicitation of a Minor 

• A sentence of 2, 3, or 4 years in state prison
• A maximum fine of $5,000
• Mandatory sex offender registration 

Federal Penalties for Solicitation of a Minor

You can be charged by federal prosecutors for soliciting a minor as mentioned above. If you’re convicted of solicitation of a minor on the federal level, the penalties you face are more severe. You may be charged with other related charges as well. Under USC 2422 and 2423, the penalties for soliciting a minor can include the following:

• If you’re convicted of using the mail, internet, or another form of communication to solicit or attempt solicitation of a minor for unlawful sexual activity or you successfully transport the minor for this illegal purpose, you face 10 years to life in federal prison.
• If you travel to another state or travel internationally to engage in a sexual act with a person under the age of 18, you could face 40 years in prison.
• Along with soliciting a minor, the prosecution may also charge you with the “sex trafficking” of children. If convicted, you face 10 years to life in prison. However, if the alleged victim is under 14 years old, you face 15 years to life in state prison. It is important to note that the prosecution can convict you even if you didn’t know that the alleged victim was under the age of 18.
• When you’re paroled, you’re required to register as a sex offender with your local law enforcement agency. Additionally, lifetime registration as a sex offender with the federal government may be required.

Professional and Personal Consequences 

Aside from the legal punishments for soliciting a minor in Riverside, you may endure personal and professional consequences as well. The stress, shame, and judgment associated with a conviction like this challenge your relationships with family and friends. At work, you may be disqualified from promotions or removed from your position. It might also be difficult to find another decent job with a solicitation of a minor charge looming on your record. If you currently hold a professional license or are attempting to get approved for professional licensure, this type of mark on your record can cause serious difficulties for you in many fields including teaching, medical, childcare, law or government. Mandated sex offender registration only adds to your embarrassment and problems. A conviction for solicitation of a minor can drag you down for the rest of your life. 

The good news is that you don’t have to face possible conviction alone. We understand the pressure and stress you’re facing. For over 40 years, our skilled defense attorneys have represented clients facing accusations of soliciting a minor in Riverside. When you choose Wallin & Klarich, we will listen to your side of the story without judgment and build a strong defense to persuade the court of your innocence. 

Fight Back | Possible Defenses Against Solicitation of a Minor Charges

If you’re charged with solicitation of a minor, you may feel like there’s no chance of a good outcome. With Wallin & Klarich, the possibility of success increases exponentially. For over 40 years, we’ve built strong defense strategies for many clients accused of soliciting a minor in Riverside. Our experience has allowed us to perfect the art of creating persuasive arguments. Effective defenses for solicitation of a minor can include but are not limited to: 

Entrapment 

In cases involving sting operations, entrapment can be argued by a skilled defense attorney. If a sting operation was used in your case, we will review any communication between you and the undercover officer. We look for any evidence showing the officer tricked or encouraged you to commit a crime. If meeting up for the purpose of sex was the officer’s idea instead of yours, we can show that you were entrapped by the police. If this is true in your case, your rights have been violated, and we will fight for the dismissal of your charges. 

False Accusations

If you’re falsely accused of soliciting a minor, we will argue this defense on your behalf. By investigating communication records between you and the alleged victim, we can find evidence to support your side of the story. For example, you talk to a minor online who pretends to be 18 years old. Her parents find out and s/he makes up a story that you were taking advantage of them in order to clear themselves of personal responsibility. In the case they file a police report against you, If you didn’t meet the minor, we can use messages to prove she made false accusations and show that you had no intention of engaging in any lewd acts with a minor. When presented to the court in a persuasive manner, this defense can be highly effective in proving your innocence. 

Good Faith – Belief of Age

If you reasonably believed the alleged victim was 18 years old, the good faith belief of age can be a good defense. In the above example, you chat with a minor who pretends to be 18 years old. Aside from arguing false accusations, your attorney can use the good faith belief of age defense to support your case by clearly showing that you believed the person was an adult, thus negating the necessary condition of intent that the prosecutor must prove.

Hiring A Solicitation of a Minor Defense Attorney | How We Can Help You

When you’re facing serious charges like the solicitation of a minor, it’s extremely important to hire a skilled attorney with a history of success in the courtroom. At Wallin & Klarich, we believe four (4) key aspects separate an average attorney from the best defense attorney. 

1.   Experience
2.   Communication
3.   Track record
4.   Ethos – Credibility

Wallin & Klarich | 40+ Years of Experience Defending Solicitation of a Minor Charges

With over 40 years of experience defending clients accused of soliciting a minor, our attorneys at Wallin & Klarich understand the different strategies that work in the courtroom based on the details of each case. We’re also familiar with the prosecutors, which gives us the advantage of knowing their strategies as well. Our real-world experience allows us to craft a strong defense, greatly increasing your chance of success. 

24/7 Communication With Your Attorney | The Wallin & Klarich Way 

At Wallin & Klarich, communication and transparency are the foundation of our success. It’s easy for clients to get lost in all the paperwork and legality. We want you to know what’s happening with your case, so we keep communication open and honest, taking the time to listen and address your concerns. This is why so many people choose our attorneys when they’re facing accusations of soliciting a minor in Riverside. With 24/7 lines of communication and expert guidance throughout their legal journey, our clients are happier and more well-informed. Working together, we’re able to achieve the best results. 

 Let’s begin building the strongest defense for your case. Give us a call at (877) 4-NO-JAIL.

Track Record of Success | Wallin & Klarich History of Winning Cases

Anyone can say they’re successful, but tangible results speak for themselves. We want you to be just as confident in our abilities as we are, so we invite you to look at some of our client’s success stories and big wins in the courtroom. 

Reputation & Ethos | Wallin & Klarich A Reputation You Want on Your Side

With hundreds of lawyers claiming to have extensive experience defending clients charged with solicitation of a minor in Riverside, it is challenging to choose the right law firm to defend you. For more than 40 years, we’ve defended cases involving solicitation of a minor, and many of our cases have been featured on television, in newspapers, and throughout the internet. Check out some of our most notable cases below. 

Call Us Today

If you or a loved one have been charged with soliciting a minor, time is of the essence; getting ahead of the case is often what makes the most significant difference in obtaining a favorable outcome. Give us a call, toll-free at (877) 466-5245 for a free consultation with one of our highly-skilled Riverside solicitation of a minor defense attorneys.