Aggressively Fighting for the Best Possible Outcome
TAMPA, FLORIDA SOLICITATION OF A MINOR ATTORNEY
Experienced Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer Serving Hillsborough & Pinellas County
Solicitation of a minor is a serious criminal offense under Florida law. Individuals accused of this crime may face felony charges, significant prison sentences, and lifelong consequences, including sex offender registration. A conviction can affect employment, housing, family relationships, and personal freedom in ways that extend far beyond the courtroom. A conviction can affect every aspect of a person’s life, from employment and housing to family relationships and personal freedom.
When you are facing allegations like these, the steps you take early can shape the entire outcome of your case. The Tampa criminal attorneys at Buda Law represent individuals accused of solicitation of a minor throughout Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, and the surrounding West Central Florida communities.
If you or a loved one is facing these charges, call Buda Law today at (813) 322-2832 or contact us online to schedule a consultation as soon as possible.
What is Solicitation of a Minor in Florida?
Under Florida law, a person commits solicitation of a minor by knowingly soliciting, inducing, enticing, or encouraging a child to engage in unlawful sexual conduct or other illegal acts. The legal definition does not require that actual physical contact occur, as the communication itself, when directed at a minor or a person believed to be a minor, can be sufficient to support criminal charges.
Florida Statute 847.0135 covers charges involving computer pornography, prohibited computer usage, and traveling to meet a minor. Under this statute, it is a crime to:
“seduce, solicit, lure, or entice, or attempt to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice, a child or another person believed by the person to be a child, to commit any illegal act described in chapter 794, chapter 800, or chapter 827, or to otherwise engage in any unlawful sexual conduct with a child or with another person believed by the person to be a child.”
To clarify, Chapter 794 covers sexual battery charges in Florida, Chapter 800 covers lewd and lascivious behavior and indecent exposure, and Chapter 827 covers Florida child abuse charges.
Solicitation of a Minor: Florida Law and Criminal Charges
Florida law addresses solicitation crimes involving minors under several provisions, including the Computer Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act, which specifically targets online and electronic solicitation of children. To secure a conviction, prosecutors must prove that the defendant knowingly used communication to solicit a minor (or a person believed to be a minor) to engage in unlawful sexual conduct or another illegal act.
The prosecution’s case typically relies on digital communications, device records, and testimony from law enforcement officers involved in the investigation. A Tampa felony defense lawyer at Buda Law can help you understand the specific elements the prosecution must prove and what that means for your defense strategy.
Criminal Solicitation of a Minor and Related Offenses
Solicitation of a minor charges can arise from a wide range of conduct, including direct communication through electronic devices, cell phones, dating apps, or internet chatrooms. Depending on the facts of the case, related offenses are often charged alongside solicitation. These may include child pornography charges, lewd and lascivious offenses, and statutory rape allegations in Florida, all of which can stem from the same set of underlying facts.
Because multiple serious charges can arise from a single incident, it is critical to retain an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as allegations surface. Buda Law has dedicated attorneys prepared to handle each of these related charges and the ways they interact with a solicitation case.
Sexual Solicitation of a Minor Charges in Florida
Sexual solicitation of a minor in Florida charges involve allegations that the defendant used communication to induce or entice a child to engage in sex or any other unlawful sexual conduct. Florida law covers a broad range of communications for unlawful purposes, including messages expressing sexual desire, requests for sexual acts, or attempts to arrange a meeting with a minor.
In the most serious cases, particularly those involving younger victims or aggravating circumstances, charges may be elevated significantly, and prosecutors pursue these cases with substantial resources, often relying on digital evidence, internet service records, and undercover officer testimony.
How Law Enforcement Investigates Solicitation of a Minor Cases
Law enforcement agencies in Florida investigate solicitation of a minor cases through internet sting operations, undercover investigations, and analysis of digital communication evidence gathered from cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices. Undercover investigators often pose as minors online to identify individuals engaging in conduct that constitutes solicitation, and prosecutors may argue that the defendant had a real plan to follow through with the illegal act, even if no actual meeting took place.
Once an arrest is made, law enforcement typically seeks search warrants to conduct device analysis, reviewing messages, emails, browsing history, and other data stored on the defendant’s electronic devices. This electronic evidence plays a major role in prosecution. Digital communications recovered from cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices are frequently used to establish that the defendant solicited a minor or a person believed to be a minor for unlawful sexual conduct.
Is Soliciting a Minor a Felony in Florida?
Yes, soliciting a minor is a felony under Florida state law. The severity of the charge depends on several factors, including the age of the alleged victim, the nature of the conduct, and the defendant’s prior convictions. A charge involving a minor under the age of 18 may be classified as a 3rd degree felony in Florida, while circumstances involving younger children, actual physical contact, or aggravating factors can elevate the charge to a 2nd degree felony in Florida or higher.
How Much Jail Time for Soliciting a Minor?
Sentencing for online solicitation of a minor in Florida varies depending on the degree of the felony charged and the specific circumstances of the case. Generally, however, a third-degree felony conviction carries up to five years in prison, while a second-degree felony conviction can result in up to 15 years in prison, depending on the facts and the defendant’s criminal history.
A conviction for sexual solicitation of a minor also results in long-term legal consequences, including mandatory sex offender registration, which imposes ongoing reporting requirements and restrictions on where a person may live and work. These lifelong consequences make it essential to retain an experienced criminal defense attorney who understands how to challenge the prosecution’s case effectively.
Other Potential Penalties Following a Florida Soliciting a Minor Charge
Beyond incarceration, individuals convicted of soliciting a minor in Florida face probation and court supervision that can last for years following their release, with strict conditions governing their daily lives and activities. A conviction for sexual solicitation of a minor also results in mandatory sex offender registration, which imposes ongoing reporting requirements and restrictions on where a person may live and work. Understanding what sex offenders are not allowed to do in Florida and whether a sex offender can get off the registry are important considerations for anyone facing these charges.
Additional legal and personal consequences for individuals convicted of these charges include loss of professional licenses, restrictions on internet service and electronic device use, and the lasting social stigma that accompanies a sex crime conviction. These lifelong consequences make it essential to retain an experienced criminal defense attorney who understands how to challenge the prosecution’s case effectively.
Why You Need a Skilled Florida Criminal Defense Attorney for These Charges
Facing child solicitation charges in Florida is an experience that can upend every aspect of your life, and attempting to navigate the criminal case alone without an experienced lawyer by your side puts your freedom and future at serious risk. Whether the allegations involve a lewd or lascivious act, sexual battery, or any other unlawful sexual activity, Florida prosecutors pursue these cases aggressively and with substantial resources.
From the earliest stages of an investigation through trial, a skilled criminal defense lawyer ensures that your legal rights are protected at every turn, that evidence is carefully scrutinized for constitutional violations, and that the prosecution is held to its full burden of proof.
Internet solicitation charges and other forms of child solicitation carry consequences that extend far beyond a prison sentence: mandatory sex offender registration, loss of professional licenses, and lasting personal and social consequences can follow a conviction for the rest of your life. An experienced lawyer understands what’s at stake and knows how law enforcement builds these cases, where the weaknesses in the evidence tend to lie, and how to develop a defense strategy tailored to the specific facts of your situation. When the stakes are this high, having the right criminal defense lawyer is not just important; it’s essential.
Possible Defenses to Solicitation of a Minor Charges
Several valid defense strategies may be available to individuals facing solicitation of a minor charges in Florida, depending on the facts of the case.
- Lack of intent is one possible defense, as prosecutors bear the burden of proving that the defendant knowingly engaged in conduct intended to solicit a minor for unlawful purposes. Evidence that intent was absent or misunderstood can create reasonable doubt.
- Mistaken identity is another defense that may apply in cases involving computer solicitation, where the identity of the person behind a screen name or profile is not always clear.
- Entrapment defenses are also relevant in cases arising from online sting operations, where an undercover police officer conduct may have induced a person to commit an act they would not otherwise have committed.
- Challenging digital evidence on constitutional or procedural grounds can further weaken the prosecution’s case.
Speak With a Tampa, Florida Solicitation of a Minor Defense Attorney at Buda Law Today
If you are facing solicitation-related allegations, online communication-related charges, or other serious criminal accusations in Tampa or the surrounding area, Buda Law is ready to help. Time matters in these cases, so it’s incredibly important to act quickly to protect your rights and your future. The sooner you have experienced legal counsel in place, the more opportunities your Tampa, FL sex crime lawyer has to build a solid defense that secures the best possible outcome.
Contact Buda Law by calling (813) 322-2832 or by contacting us online to schedule a free consultation with an experienced attorney today.