What is Enticement of a Child in Larimer County?
A person will be arrested by Fort Collins, Johnstown or Wellington police for Enticement of a Child if they:
- Persuade, invite (or attempt to invite or persuade) a child who is under the age of fifteen years old to enter a building, room, vehicle or secluded place “with the intent to commit sexual assault or unlawful sexual contact” on the child. It is not necessary for the child to realize that the person is enticing them.
This sex offense is often charged when a person invites a child (or a person they believe to be a child) to meet while they are chatting in a chat room, texting, emailing, or communicating over a social site. Usually, we see this charge result from romance chat rooms.
An Indeterminate Sentence for Enticement of a Child in Larimer County
Enticement of a Child is either a class 4 or class 3 felony. Either way, it is subject to Colorado’s indeterminate sentencing laws, which means that upon conviction a judge would sentence you to the Colorado Department of Corrections for 2 years to life. The release of a person convicted of Enticement of a Child is determined by the Colorado Parole Board’s assessment of risk to society. You would also be required to complete sex offender registration, and undergo sex offender treatment as overseen by the Colorado Sex Offender Management Board (who has a one-size-fits-all treatment program).
Internet Police Stings: Common Traps to Charge Enticement of a Child
Fort Collins, Windsor and Estes Park police often perform internet stings in order to catch sex offenders in Larimer County. Police officers will pose as children in chat rooms, over texts, or on social media sites in order to lure people into committing Enticement of a Child. In order to do this, they will be sure to establish a few key items:
- They will make sure that they state that they are under the age of 15. If no age is given, the police have no case (though there are other sex offenses they could be looking to charge you with).
- They will be sure to establish that the person they are communicating with had the intent to commit sexual assault or unlawful sexual contact.
It is wise to never communicate online with a child about anything sexual – transcripts can be saved, and calls can be recorded as evidence to use against you in court.
Why You Need an Experienced Enticement of a Child Lawyer in Fort Collins
If you have been caught in a police sting, you need an experienced Enticement of a Child lawyer by your side to defend your future. One of the defenses we can use (if applicable to your case) is entrapment. If the police setup the initial encounter, and it can be proved that a person’s behavior was influenced by the actions of the police, we can use entrapment as an effective defense. The differences between Enticement of a Child and crimes such as Internet Luring of a Child, or Internet Sexual Exploitation of a Child are very subtle. It takes a criminal defense attorney who has a thorough understanding of criminal law to understand these differences and build the best possible defense for your case. Our sex crimes lawyers will be an important asset, and will provide vital defense for your freedom.
If you or a loved one has been arrested by Fort Collins, Loveland or Estes Park police for Enticement of a Child, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007, or submit the “Get Help Now” form. Together, we can protect your future.
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Related Links:
- Learn more about the Colorado Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB)
- Learn about other Internet Sex Offenses in Larimer County
- Sexual Exploitation of a Child – C.R.S. 186-403
- Sexual Assault – C.R.S. 18-3-402
- Unlawful Sexual Contact – C.R.S. 18-3-404