Torrance Solicitation of a Minor Defense Attorney
What is Solicitation of a Minor?
Under California Penal Code Section 288.4, the prosecution can charge you with solicitation of a minor for arranging a meeting with anyone under 18 years old to engage in unlawful sexual activity. The court could convict you of this crime even if you never had any physical contact with the alleged victim.
For example, you plan a meetup with a teen and show up at the arranged time. If you knew the alleged victim was a teen, a jury would likely return a guilty verdict for solicitation of a minor in Torrance. If your case involves the internet, the federal government may file charges against you, significantly increasing the already harsh penalties for this crime.
Without a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer, it is a struggle to prove your innocence, even if you had no intention of harming anyone. The prosecution will prepare a compelling argument to prove your guilt.
First, you need to consult with our skilled defense attorneys at Wallin & Klarich. With 40+ years of experience handling federal and state sex crime cases, we have the skills required to help you fight a wrongful conviction. Call us today for your free consultation.
State Prosecution Solicitation of a Minor | PC 288.4
In most cases, Torrance prosecutors pursue felony charges for solicitation of a minor to discourage future offenses. However, our attorneys at Wallin & Klarich may be able to convince the prosecutor to reduce your charges to a misdemeanor, depending on the facts and your criminal history. You face life-altering consequences if the prosecution proves the following:
- You planned a meeting with a minor or an individual you thought was a minor in order to engage in sexual conduct.
- You were motivated by an abnormal sexual attraction to children.
- You arrived at the agreed location and time.
Note: The prosecution could convict you for soliciting a minor even if you were unaware of the victim’s age at the time, especially if they can demonstrate that you should’ve been aware.
Federal Prosecution for Solicitation of a Minor | USC 2422-2423
The Federal government may bring charges against you for solicitation of minors in Torrance as well, especially if your case involved the internet, mail, or travel to another state. A federal conviction can mean dramatically increased penalties. Under USC 24221 and 2423, you face a federal conviction and dramatically increased penalties for solicitation of a minor if the Attorney General can prove you committed any of the below actions:
- Tried to persuade or coax any minor to travel to another country or state for prostitution or illegal sexual conduct.
- Contacted the minor through the mail, internet, or phone to persuade them to participate in unlawful sexual conduct.
- Deliberately transported a minor to another country or state for unlawful sexual conduct.
- Intentionally traveled to another country or state for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Penalties for Solicitation of a Minor| What You’re Facing
You face severe penalties for solicitation of a minor in Torrance. However, as discussed above, we may be able to negotiate with the prosecutor to get your charge reduced to a misdemeanor if you have a clean criminal record. If successful, this would result in significantly reduced penalties as well. We’ve outlined the penalties you face for solicitation of minors below.
Misdemeanor Solicitation of a Minor
- One-year jail sentence
- Maximum fine of $5,000
- Mandatory sex offender registration
Felony Solicitation of a Minor
- 2, 3, or 4 years in state prison
- Maximum fine of $5,000
- Mandatory sex offender registration
Federal Penalties for Solicitation of a Minor
When facing federal penalties, you do not want to choose any available lawyer. It’s crucial to hire a skilled Wallin & Klarich attorney with years of experience successfully defending federal criminal cases. Under USC 2422 and 2423, you face the following federal penalties for solicitation of a minor:
- 10 years to life in federal prison for using the mail, internet, or another form of communication for soliciting, attempting to solicit, or transporting a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity
- 40 years in prison for traveling to another country or state to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with a minor
- Possible 10 years to life in prison if convicted of “sex trafficking” a minor
- 15 years to life in prison if convicted of “sex trafficking” a minor under the age of 14
- Sex offender registration with California state or your local agency
- Possible lifetime sex offender registration with the federal government.
Professional and Personal Consequences
In addition to legal penalties for soliciting a minor in Torrance, you’ll likely suffer personal and professional consequences as well. A criminal charge involving children brings about judgment, even from your family, friends, and coworkers. You stand to lose your livelihood, important relationships, and much more.
While it’s difficult to overcome accusations like these, it’s next to impossible to reestablish your credibility once convicted of soliciting a minor. A criminal record and sex offender registration make it challenging to move on after your release from prison.
If you hope to avoid a sex crime charge and keep your future intact, you need to contact a skilled attorney without delay. Our knowledgeable attorneys at Wallin & Klarich specialize in defending clients falsely accused of soliciting minors in Torrance. We’ve represented state and federal cases for 40+ years and helped our clients avoid decades in federal prison.
Choosing Wallin & Klarich is one of the wisest decisions you can make to protect your rights and freedom. You’ll feel relieved knowing we’ll stand by your side and advocate for you! Call our office today and consult with our experienced Torrance criminal defense attorneys for free!
Defense Strategies For Solicitation of a Minor Charges
Accusations of soliciting minors call for an expert legal strategy presented by a confident lawyer. You need someone who will listen to your side of the story and craft a powerful defense, as we’ve done for countless clients over the course of 40+ years. We can use several strategies before and during your trial to get your charges reduced or dropped and help you avoid the sex offender registry. Some of the top defenses we’ve used in federal and state solicitation cases include but are not limited to the following:
Entrapment
Entrapment is argued in a variety of cases involving undercover officers. However, this defense rarely results in a not guilty verdict without the presentation skills of an exceptional lawyer. Our Wallin & Klarich attorneys understand when this defense applies and how to use it effectively.
If your case involved an undercover operation, we would examine all the available data to look for evidence of entrapment, such as the officer pressuring you to commit the crime. For example, the undercover “teen” keeps asking you to come over even after rejecting the invitation several times. However, you finally agree after she begs you to help her get out of dangerous conditions at home.
False Accusations
We’ve successfully defended many clients falsely accused of soliciting a minor. If a parent or teen accused you of soliciting a minor, we’d present a solid argument in court backed by substantial evidence. First, we examine the facts of your case and employ our world-class investigators to find hidden details beneficial to your defense.
For example, you’re charged with soliciting a minor after chatting with a woman online. While you arrange to meet up, you do not have any sexual intentions, and you don’t discover she’s eighteen until after your arrest. We may argue that you never intended to have sex with the teen, and the parents exaggerated the whole story.
Good Faith – Belief of Age
While you still can be convicted even if you don’t know the alleged victim is underage, a solid defense is a reasonable belief that the victim was 18 or older.
Suppose we can convince the prosecutor that you were unaware of the victim’s age. In that case, they may drop or reduce charges before trial, saving you a considerable headache and years in prison. Call our office today if a reasonable belief of age led to your arrest in Torrance.
Hiring The Right Sex Crime Defense Attorney | How We Can Help You
Don’t settle for an average lawyer with your future at stake. Hire an experienced attorney to defend you against serious charges. Wallin & Klarich believes everyone deserves excellent legal representation. While choosing the right defense lawyer requires careful consideration of many factors, four key aspects quickly set skilled law firms apart:
- Commitment to clients
- Integrity in action
- Legal expertise
- Community respect
Our Commitment To You | The Wallin & Klarich Difference
At Wallin & Klarich, we are committed to our clients. When you trust us with your case, we never take it lightly because we understand your life’s hanging in the balance. We set aside time to go over what to expect and any new developments in your case so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Our attorneys treat you with integrity, starting with an honest, genuine conversation between us.
We’re upfront with all our fees from the very beginning, and once we’ve had time to investigate your case thoroughly, we lay all your available options on the table. To ensure your questions and concerns never go unheard, we return your phone calls and emails within 24 hours and keep an on-call criminal defense lawyer for after-hours legal emergencies. Most importantly, we guarantee a judgment-free environment for you and your loved ones.
Wallin & Klarich | Unparalleled Legal Expertise
Our 40+ years of experience sets us apart from the crowd of defense lawyers. We’ve successfully defended thousands of clients falsely accused of soliciting a minor in Torrance. Some of our clients came to us with nowhere else to turn and no hope of winning their case. However, our background allowed us to spot strengths in their cases, which an attorney with less experience would’ve missed.
By tailoring our defense strategies to fit the specific details of your case, we increase your chance of success. We have the added advantage of knowing the techniques of local prosecutors and the personalities of judges in Torrance. Our passion for defending the unfairly accused is the driving force behind each of our attorneys at Wallin & Klarich.
Discover how our experienced criminal defense attorneys can help you fight false accusations in Torrance, CA. Contact us today at (877) 4-NO-JAIL.
Respected & Recognized | Wallin & Klarich
The community recognizes the Wallin & Klarich name for our strong values and legal expertise. For over 40 years, we’ve built our powerful reputation by maintaining our integrity, valuing our relationships with clients, and consistently striving to redefine excellence. For more insight, check out our recent and past success in the courtroom.
Our Notable Cases | Wallin & Klarich Newsworthy Legal Strategies
Many attorneys point to their experience or skill in defending sex crime cases, but our attorneys have delivered tangible results in many complex legal dilemmas. Over the past 40+ years, many of our legal battles have captured the media’s attention. Television, newspapers, and the digital world have covered some of our most notable moments. We encourage you to explore our newsworthy cases below to learn more about our law firm.
Call Us Today
If you or a loved one are being charged with solicitation of a Minor in Torrance, CA, visit us in person, online, or by calling (877) 466-5245 for a free consultation with a highly-skilled local defense attorney.