Luring a Minor

According to childluresprevention.com, while some sexual abuse is purely opportunistic, most children are groomed and lured into situations where they are vulnerable to abuse.  Strategies such as befriending youngsters on social media, loitering in places children frequent (playgrounds, parks, malls, game arcades, sports fields), or even befriending parents to gain access to their children are all common ways to lure a child. 

In the state of Arizona, an individual commits the crime of luring a minor when they offer or ask for sexual conduct with another person when they know or should have known the person was a minor. Some examples of luring a minor include emailing a minor a sexually explicit photo, texting a minor asking to meet up to have sex, or offering a minor sexual favors in an online chat room.  In the wake of accusations of Luring a Minor in the greater Phoenix metro area, Maricopa County including but not limited to Chandler, Tempe, Scottsdale or Gilbert, you need to contact an attorney immediately

Why Should You Choose the Legal Team at Ciccarelli Law Offices for Your Charges of Luring a Minor?

Choosing an attorney for your criminal charges of luring a minor can seem overwhelming. Most people do not have a criminal defense attorney on retainer and may not even know who to call. It is important that your criminal defense attorney is committed to protecting your rights and your future and that your attorney has extensive experience relevant to your charges. Having a criminal defense attorney from the Ciccarelli Law Offices who knows exactly what to do and how to get things done can be invaluable. When you choose the legal team at Ciccarelli Law Offices, you are choosing attorneys with a depth of experience in criminal defense that is rarely seen.    

The Ciccarelli legal team will aggressively defend your Arizona charges of luring a minor from beginning to end with the goal of getting your charges reduced or dismissed altogether. If there is absolutely no way to have the charges reduced or dismissed, Ciccarelli Law Offices will work to have your sentence reduced to the extent possible. Lee Ciccarelli is an experienced defender for those accused of sex crimes, leading a team with more than 100 years of combined national criminal defense experience, both in federal and state courts. 

Attorney Lee Ciccarelli has been recognized by Super Lawyers and the Ciccarelli legal team has received hundreds of five-star reviews. We fully understand the trauma of being charged and prosecuted for luring a minor. Not only are you facing serious criminal penalties, but you are also looking at a sullied reputation, perhaps even the loss of your job.

The Ciccarelli legal team brings big-city criminal defense experience to you, serving your needs in every way possible. We are dedicated to fighting for the rights of those whose future and liberty are on the line due to criminal allegations. We truly want to make a difference in your life regardless of who you are, where you are from, or how much money you have. 

What is Luring a Minor in Arizona? 

Under A.R.S. 13-3554, child luring is essentially the solicitation of a minor for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The essence of child luring is enticing a minor into sexual conduct. Aggravated child luring (A.R.S. 13-3560) includes the electronic transmission of one or more visual depictions of material that is harmful to minors with a goal of initiating or engaging in communication with a minor, then utilizing the material to offer or solicit sexual conduct with the minor.  

Child luring is a Class 3 felony, while aggravated child luring is a Class 2 felony. Material that is considered “harmful to minors” has an excessive interest in sexual matters and is patently offensive. If the victim is under the age of 15, aggravated child luring may also be charged as a Dangerous Crime Against Children, a charge that carries enhanced penalties. 

What are the Penalties in Arizona for Luring a Minor? 

The penalties associated with luring a minor will depend on the age of the minor as follows:

• A child luring conviction when the minor is at least 15 years of age can result in a minimum sentence of two years in prison, and a maximum sentence of 8.75 years in prison. 
• A child luring conviction when the minor is under the age of 15 and the crime is charged as DCAC is a minimum sentence of 5 years in prison, and up to a maximum of 15 years in prison. 
• An aggravated child luring conviction when the minor is at least 15 years old can result in a minimum sentence of 3 years in prison and up to a maximum of 12.5 years in prison. 
• An aggravated child luring conviction when the minor is under 15 years old and the crime is charged as DCAC, is a minimum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum prison sentence of 24 years. 

In addition to a prison sentence, a conviction for either luring a minor or aggravated luring requires mandatory registration as a sex offender. Probation is not available for those convicted of Dangerous Crimes Against Children. 

What are the Potential Defenses to Luring a Minor?

Your specific defense will depend on the exact circumstances and facts surrounding your case, however, there are a number of more commonly-used defenses, including:

• You were entrapped—Entrapment is not an easy defense to make, as your attorney must show that your crime was triggered by law enforcement personnel and that they specifically induced you to commit a criminal offense you would not otherwise have committed. 
• You mistakenly believed the alleged victim was not a minor—If you reasonably believed the person was an adult, that might be a defense, as the law requires that you believe the person was a minor. 
• There were clear search and seizure violations—If law enforcement did not have a valid warrant, or otherwise conducted an illegal search and seizure, then any evidence gathered from the search could be deemed inadmissible. 
• Your confession was coerced—If you were subject to intense interrogation, essentially forced to “confess,” then your coerced confession could be thrown out. 
• Romeo and Juliet Law—If the minor is at least 15 and the defendant is under the age of 19, is in high school, or is no more than 24 months older than the alleged victim, then the prosecution may not be able to prove the case. 
• False allegations by the accuser—The child has been coached or coerced to say you engaged in behaviors that you did not engage in. 
• This is not sufficient physical evidence—There must be physical evidence of child luring that links you directly to the crime. 

Are You Facing Charges of Luring a Minor? We Can Help!

Luring a minor is a serious offense and one that can significantly jeopardize your entire future. Without solid legal representation, you could face time in jail, as well as a lifetime of consequences. At Ciccarelli Law Offices, our Arizona Criminal Defense lawyers have the experience and resources you need to fight these serious allegations and charges.

Call a Phoenix Sex Crimes Attorney Today

If you or somebody you love is facing accusations or charges of Sex Crimes in the greater Phoenix metro area, Maricopa County including but not limited to Chandler, Tempe, Scottsdale or Gilbert, you need to contact an attorney immediately. Not any attorney will do, and you likely need a team of Smart, Experienced, Aggressive, determined lawyers that fight back at sex crimes and discuss you or your loved one’s possible defenses and strategies.   Call now. Now is the time for action and the time for Lee Ciccarelli and his team.