Connecticut Enticing a Minor by Computer Lawyer

In addition to prohibiting people from intentionally and knowingly engaging in commercial sexual activity with persons under the age of 18, the Connecticut Penal Code also makes it illegal for an adult to use a computer to arrange a commercial or non-commercial sexual encounter with a minor. If you have been accused of this type of conduct and want to proactively protect your rights under state law, you should reach out to a Connecticut enticing a minor by computer lawyer sooner rather than later.

How Does State Law Define Enticing a Minor?

Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) §53a-90a defines Enticing a Minor as intentionally persuading, coercing, or otherwise inducing a person actually or reasonably known to be under 18 years of age to engage in prostitution or non-commercial sexual activity through the use of an interactive computer service. In this context, an interactive computer service is any service, system, or software that allows multiple users to connect to a computer server simultaneously, including Internet service providers and intranets within educational institutions or libraries.

Notably, while this statute requires the perpetrator to have solicited an act that would have exposed them personally to criminal prosecution, it does not require that the act be carried out or that the presumed minor be under 18. As a Connecticut enticing a minor by computer attorney can further explain, this means someone can be charged with Enticing a Minor even if they never physically met the minor in question in real life, or if the person whom they reasonably believed to be a minor was actually an adult.

Determining the Severity of a Charge for Enticing a Minor by Computer

The criminal classification of an Enticing a Minor charge can vary based on two factors: the number of prior convictions for the same offense, and the age of the minor with whom the defendant allegedly communicated. Typically, first-time offenses under C.G.S. §53a-90a are treated as Class D felonies, second-time offenses as Class C felonies, and third-time or subsequent offenses as Class B felonies.

However, enticing a minor who is under the age of 13 at the time is always a Class B felony regardless of the defendant’s prior criminal history or lack thereof. Furthermore, there is a mandatory minimum prison term for this particular variant of Enticing a Minor, which increases with subsequent offenses—another detail our qualified Connecticut lawyer can discuss in greater detail during a confidential consultation.

Discuss Your Legal Options with a Connecticut Enticing a Minor by Computer Attorney

Regardless of whether the allegedly proposed meeting actually occurred or not, being accused of enticing a minor online can have life-altering repercussions. That said, you still have the right to contest your charge in court before a jury of your peers, and you have access to experienced legal counsel to help you do so effectively.

A Connecticut Enticing a Minor by Computer lawyer from our team can provide the custom-tailored guidance you may need to achieve the most favorable resolution possible from your legal proceedings. Call Mark Sherman Law today for a consultation, and click here to read some of the 300+ reviews left by past clients on our Avvo.com profile.