Enticement of a child is a sex crime in Denver that involves inviting a person under the age of 15 somewhere with sexual intentions. This includes enticing a child to secluded places like a building, room, or car for sexual purposes. Damaging charges can result for this behavior, whether the young teen is aware of the intent behind the invitation or not. If you or someone you know is facing accusations of inviting a child for sex in Colorado, contact an experienced defense attorney immediately.
Denver’s Enticement of a Child Law
CRS 18-3-305 defines the elements of enticement of a child in Denver, Lodo, and Stapleton. Someone commits this sex crime when they:
- invites or persuades (or attempts to invite or persuade),
- a minor 14 or younger,
- to enter a vehicle, building, room, or secluded location,
- with the intent of sexual behavior
If police in Denver believe you’ve enticed a child, they will often come to your home with a search warrant. Electronic devices of any kind are of interest, as they have forensic specialists who can retrieve just about anything from them. Looking for images and conversations, law enforcement attempts to build a strong case against you. It is imperative that you not provide statements of any kind to police or investigators regarding enticing a child.
Will I Go to Jail for Child Enticement in Denver?
The penalties for a conviction of enticement of a child in Colorado are harsh. As a class 4 felony, following sentencing range exists:
- 2 – 6 years in prison,
- $2,000 – $500,000 in fines
However, when the situation results in bodily injury to the minor or the defendant has prior sex crime convictions involving children, a class 3 felony applies. This can as much as double the period of incarceration and amplify fines significantly. Additionally, a conviction of enticement of a child will lead to:
- sex offender registration,
- supervised probation / parole after incarceration,
- sex offender treatment / evaluations
Much of these penalties are overseen by the sex offender management board in Colorado. This group is known to disregard how isolating these long-term punishments can be to previous offenders, as well as the damaging effects on their family / friends.
Denver’s Best Sex Crimes Attorney
Reaching out to an experienced sex crimes attorney is essential in enticement of a child cases. Sometimes innocent people face felony charges when young teenagers misinterpret an adult’s attention. With the stakes this high, contact attorneys with decades of experience representing clients facing complex sex offenses. Perhaps the minor entered the location voluntarily, the invitation was for a lawful purpose, or the child misunderstood you. Nonetheless, contact our office for a free initial consultation. We will carefully analyze your child enticement case and suggest next steps, all while prioritizing your best possible outcome.
If you or someone you know is facing an enticement of a child charge in Colorado, be smart. Contact the strategic sex crimes attorneys at Sawyer Legal Group, LLC at 303-830-0880. Together, we can protect your future.
Photo by Joonas Sild