In Larimer County and Fort Collins, Internet Luring of a Child is charged when a person communicates online with someone 14 or younger and invites the person to meet up in person. These cases often result from sting operations where undercover officers are posing as young girls. A man was recently arrested for this crime after he was caught in one of these undercover operations. According to the report, the man was communicating on social media with two different ‘girls’ (police). He is accused of trying to meet up with them to engage in sexual acts and to provide them with meth. However, when he arrived at the meet up location, he was met with law enforcement. Initially, he was charged with Internet Luring of a Child, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they added something like Attempt to Commit Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor for bringing the meth to provide to the ‘girls.’
Larimer County Internet Luring of a Child Lawyer: Definition of Internet Luring of a Child for In Person Meet Up
The Larimer County, Colorado law definition of Internet Luring of a Child – C.R.S. 18-3-306 – is:
When a sting operation is involved, law enforcement make certain that all the above criteria are met. They will repeat more than once the age of the ‘child’ to be 14 or younger, make sure there is some sort of sexual conversation and then agree to a meet up. For charging purposes, Internet Luring of a Child is a class 5 felony, unless the purposed of the meet up is for sexual contact or sexual exploitation. In those cases, the person would be facing a class 4 felony.
Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor in Loveland and Estes Park
In Fort Collins, Loveland and Estes Park, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor – C.R.S. 18-6-701 – is defined as:
(b) Any person who induces, aids, or encourages a child to violate any municipal or county ordinance, court order, or state or federal law that is not a felony victims rights act crime as defined in section 24-4.1-302 (1) commits second degree contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
(c) As used in this section, the term “child” means any person under the age of eighteen years.
By stating to the undercover agents that he would provide meth to the ‘girls’ and then bringing the meth to the meet up, it could be argued that he took a substantial step toward committing the crime of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. In Colorado, there are two degrees of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor:
- First degree contributing to the delinquency of a minor is a class 4 felony.
- Second degree contributing to the delinquency of a minor is a class 1 misdemeanor
If you or someone you love has been charged with Internet Luring or Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 to schedule a free initial consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
Photo by Tracy Le Blanc