Enticement of a child is a crime in Jefferson County, Colorado that involves inviting or persuading a child (14 or younger) somewhere for sexual purposes. Often stemming from electronic communication, enticement of a child charges are on the rise as adults and youth interact on social media and through messaging apps.
It isn’t uncommon for these charges to also result from carefully calculated police stings. Any allegations of enticing a child for sex requires immediate help from an experienced enticement of a child lawyer.
What is Enticement of a Child in Colorado?
C.R.S. 18-3-305 defines the conduct of child enticement in the state of Colorado. A person commits this sex offense in Lakewood, Arvada, or Golden if they:
- persuade or invite someone 14 years of age or younger,
- to any car, building, room, or secluded location,
- intending to commit unlawful sexual contact or sexual assault upon the child
This makes many electronic conversations risky when you’re not certain the person on the receiving end is of age. Inviting a young teenager to meet in-person can be enough to result in impactful criminal charges, especially if they misunderstand the intent.
In situations where police are on the other end of the conversation, they will often subtly try to establish each of the criteria above through continuous communication.
Punishment for Enticement of a Child in Jefferson County
The consequences of conviction for enticing a child in Colorado can have a massive impact on your life moving forward. Potential criminal penalties include:
- 2 – 6 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections,
- up to $500,000 in fines.
If a defendant has prior child sex crime convictions or the child is injured in some way, a class 3 felony applies. 4 – 12 years in prison and $3,000 – $750,000 in fines are possible ramifications.
Jefferson County Sex Crimes Attorney
It is imperative that you reach out to a defense attorney as soon as possible if you’re facing accusations of enticement of a child. We have decades of experience defending clients charged with sex crimes in Colorado and our results speak for themselves. Perhaps the child entered the location without an invite or was persuaded for a lawful purpose. Nevertheless, contact our office today for a free initial consultation.
Our skilled sex crimes attorneys will carefully analyze your enticement case and suggest next steps in forming a strong defense to the charges. We provide same-day jail visits, affordable fees, and flexible payment plans for those facing criminal accusations throughout Colorado.
Don’t talk to police about enticement of a child charges – talk to us. 303-731-0719
Photo by Matthew T Rader