According to C.R.S. 18-3-306, it is against the law in Jefferson, Douglas, and Denver County to knowingly communicate through electronic means with a child who the person believes to be under the age of 15 years old when the person describes illicit sexual conduct and invites the underage person to meet for any purpose. In dealing with this law called Internet Luring of a Child, many people think that if they only ask to meet for dinner, coffee, or to go see a movie then they are not violating the law. However, this is not the case. In fact, the law proscribes meeting for any purpose, whatsoever. Where the meeting is arranged for sexual purposes, then the charge is upgraded to a harsher penalty.
What is the Punishment for Internet Luring of a Child
Where someone has previously discussed sexual things and then tries to meet with the underage person for anything other than sex, the crime is charged as a class 5 felony in Colorado. This class of felony carries a maximum punishment of three years in the Department of Corrections. However, where the people agree to any sexual act to be performed at the meeting, the district attorneys in Arapahoe, Broomfield, and Adams County will upgrade the charge to a class 4 felony. A class 4 felony increases the maximum punishment to 6 years in the Department of Corrections. The other harsh side to this upgraded charge is it is now an indeterminate sentence as well. See our Case Study on Sexual Assault involving kids for more information about the prosecution of sex cases.
What Should You do if Contacted by Police Regarding a Sexual Crime
The first thing you must do is remain silent. Do not say anything. Some defendants in the criminal justice system in Clear Creek, El Paso, and Boulder County think they are smarter than the police and try and talk their way out of any charges. This is a horrible mistake. While you may be very intelligent in other areas, the police know the law and only need to get you to admit to some key elements of the law to convict you. Police attend interrogation classes and role play to get information from unsuspecting people. You are not smart enough to win this fight. Police use this information to eliminate possible defenses that you may have, eliminate alibi witnesses or locations, or confirm other accounts of where you were and what you were thinking at the time in question.
The next thing you must do is contact our criminal defense lawyers immediately. We protect the rights of the accused. We fight against the police and often win. So, if you or someone you know is facing charges of Internet Luring of a Child, call us at 303-731-0719 today. Together, we can protect your future.