Inviting a young person under the age of 15 somewhere with sexual intent can lead to child enticement charges. Whether done electronically or in-person in Jefferson County, it is risky to persuade a child to enter any secluded location. Young teens can often misinterpret an adult's intentions or skew what occurred. It is vital that anyone under investigation for enticement of a child exercise their right to remain silent and secure a skilled criminal defense attorney right away.

What is Child Enticement in Lakewood?

Jefferson County's enticement of a child law prohibits inviting children under a certain age somewhere for sex. CRS 18-3-305 defines the specific violations throughout Colorado. You commit this serious sex crime in Lakewood, Arvada, or Golden if you:

• invite or persuade (or attempt to do so),
• someone 14 or younger,
• to enter a room, building, vehicle, or other secluded place,
• intending to sexually touch the child or perform sexual acts

Inviting a young person to meet you somewhere via phone, text, direct message, email, or chat can be enough to face charges. Additionally, the child doesn't have to be aware of the intention behind meeting for an attempt to be charged. Child enticement sometimes originates from sting operations with undercover police or when someone starts chatting or texting while drunk.

Is Enticement of a Child Always a Felony in Colorado?

For defendants facing a first-time child sex offense, enticement of a child is a class 4 felony. Possible penalties for conviction include:

• 2 – 6 years in DOC,
• up to $500K in fines,
• evaluation / treatment,
• sex offender intensive supervised probation,
• sex offender registration

If, however, the enticement isn't your first child sex crime or the child was injured, a class 3 felony applies. This can double the time in prison and increase the fine amounts in addition to the other penalties above. Lengthy periods of sex offender registration exist for felony sex crimes and can block many opportunities for rehabilitation. Difficulty finding employment, restricted housing options, and general distrust from society can sometimes be insurmountable for registered sex offenders.

Jefferson County Sex Crimes Lawyer

Child enticement charges require strategic representation from the get-go. Vital evidence exists in these cases that should be preserved and carefully analyzed. Perhaps the invitation was for a lawful purpose or the child didn't understand your intent. That being said, we invite you to contact our firm for a free consultation. You will speak with an experienced sex crimes attorney right away and can schedule an appointment in one of our offices or even a jail visit. We offer affordable fees and also flexible payment plans for those facing sex crime allegations throughout the state of Colorado.

So, if you or someone you know is facing child enticement charges in Colorado, be smart. Contact the determined criminal lawyers at Sawyer Legal Group, LLC at 303-830-0880. Together, we can protect your future.

Photo by Sebastian Voortman