Internet luring of a child charges in Weld County, Colorado can be the result of communicating sexual content electronically to a young teenager with an attempt to meet. If the young person is under the age of 15 and you’re 4 or more years older, devastating criminal charges can follow. Internet luring is a complex sex offense in Colorado, requiring the expertise of a skilled sex crimes attorney if facing charges or accusations.
Internet Luring of a Child in Weld County
C.R.S. 18-3-306 defines the specific elements of internet luring in Greeley, Windsor, and Fort Lupton:
- (1) An actor commits internet luring of a child if the actor knowingly communicates over a computer or computer network, telephone network, or data network or by a text message or instant message to a person who the actor knows or believes to be under fifteen years of age and, in that communication or in any subsequent communication by computer, computer network, telephone network, data network, text message, or instant message, describes explicit sexual conduct as defined in section 18-6-403(2)(e), and, in connection with that description, makes a statement persuading or inviting the person to meet the actor for any purpose, and the actor is more than four years older than the person or than the age the actor believes the person to be.
- (2) It shall not be a defense to this section that a meeting did not occur.
- (3) Internet luring of a child is a class 5 felony; except that internet luring of a child is a class 4 felony if committed with the intent to meet for the purpose of engaging in sexual exploitation as defined in section 18-6-403 or sexual contact as defined in section 18-3-401.
Can You Go to Jail for Internet Luring in Weld County?
As a class 5 felony, a conviction of electronically luring a child under 15 can lead to 1 – 3 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections and up to $100,000 in fines. However, amplified penalties exist if the the intent to meet in person was for sexual contact or sexual exploitation. This can as much as double the prison sentence and add six-figures to the fine amount.
Additionally, being found guilty of internet luring can lead to decades of sex offender registration, years of sex offender intensive supervised probation, and costly treatment / evaluations.
Weld County Internet Luring Attorney
Representation from an experienced criminal defense attorney is crucial in internet luring of a child cases. Prosecutors often seek maximum punishment for any sex crimes against children, heightening the need for a strong defense. Perhaps you didn’t know you were communicating with someone under 15, you didn’t describe explicit sexual conduct, or the young teen misunderstood your intent. Nevertheless, it is imperative that you exercise your right to remain silent and avoid giving any statements to police. Instead, contact our office today for a free initial consultation with the best defense attorneys in Weld County.
We offer same-day jail visits, affordable fees, and flexible payment plans for those facing accusations in Colorado.
If you or someone you know is facing internet luring of a child charges in Colorado, be smart. Contact the top criminal defense lawyers at Sawyer Legal Group, LLC at 303-830-0880. Together, we can protect your future.
Photo by Blake Barlow
