A Loveland man was arrested for Internet Luring earlier this summer. According to reports, he allegedly contacted a teen girl on Craigslist and wanted to meet for a sexual encounter. As usual, the “teen girl” was fictitious – it was actually an undercover police officer posing as a teenager. This is a very common occurrence in Larimer County. Police pride themselves in catching “predators” by posing as children on the internet in adult chat rooms and sites such as Craigslist.
What is Internet Luring of a Child?
Internet Luring of a Child – C.R.S. 18-3-306 is a sex offense in Fort Collins, Loveland and Estes Park. In order to be charged, an undercover police officer must establish a few key items during communication online or over the phone. The cop must mention during the chat that they are under the age of 15. Then, the undercover officer will steer the conversation in order to get the person they are communicating with to say the following:
- They must describe explicit sexual conduct during their communication;
- They must make a statement that invites the “child” to meet for any purpose (it doesn’t have to be sexual);
- The person must be 4 years older than the “child” they are communicating with.
The Sentence for Internet Luring in Larimer County
Internet Luring is a class 4 felony when the purpose of the meeting is for a sexual purpose (a class 5 felony when meeting for any other purpose). The difference between sentencing for these two levels of offense is enormous – the class 4 felony is subject to Indeterminate Sentencing, while the class 5 felony is not. Indeterminate Sentencing means that a judge is unable to set an upper limit for a prison sentence. The Loveland man is most likely facing 2 years to life in the Colorado Department of Corrections. Internet Luring is a sex offense, which means that you must register as a sex offender and undergo sex offender treatment (overseen by the harsh Colorado Sex Offender Management Board).
Entrapment Defense for Internet Luring
An affirmative defense to Internet Luring is Entrapment – which can be used when it can be proved that the accused person would never have committed a crime unless the opportunity was presented by the police. This defense can be used when applicable, but the police are careful and skilled at avoiding the entrapment defense. It is vital that you work with an experienced criminal defense attorney – your freedom is at stake. You could be looking at life in prison, so it is very important to work with an experienced team who can fight for your freedom and work to get your case dismissed or work out a favorable plea deal.