Irvine Solicitation of a Minor Lawyer

About Goodman Criminal Litigation

In Irvine, we represent clients who are accused of any type of serious solicitation of a minor crimes. We can fight for your rights every step of the way through the criminal justice system and have the knowledge, experience, and resources to be aggressive in defending your case. You need an experienced Irvine criminal defense lawyer on your side.

With a background in criminal law and experience in handling sex offenses, The Law Office of Jacqueline Goodman can help you understand your case, protect your rights, and minimize the penalties and consequences you may face. We are experienced in local courts, including the North Justice Center in Fullerton, California.

These allegations do not have to permanently alter the course of your life. Schedule a confidential consultation by calling (657) 571-2266 or filling out an online contact form today.

Renowned Success Rate

Criminal cases are often complicated. There are two sides to every story, and it is important that the court sees the situation clearly. The Law Office of Jacqueline Goodman can help defend you in your criminal case and make sure your perspective is heard.

Solicitation of a Minor Laws in California

Solicitation of a minor in Irvine is defined as setting up a meeting with a minor for obscene purposes in California Penal Code § 288.4. A person may face criminal charges in California if they plan to meet with someone under the age of 18 or with someone they suspect is under the age of 18 with the intention of exposing their genitalia to them, engaging in lewd or lascivious behavior with them, or causing them to do so, even if the lewd or lascivious act is never performed.

The prosecution must demonstrate the following to establish that solicitation of a minor took place:

• A meeting was scheduled. The accused scheduled a meeting with the minor or the individual they thought was a minor.
• There was a sexual component. The defendant’s sexual interest in children served as motivation.
• The intention was to partake in obscene activities. The defendant intended to have sex, or perform other sexually related activities, with the minor.

It is not necessary for the meeting to have taken place. Charges can be started simply by setting up a meeting. There may also be additional fees. For example, sending harmful material to a minor is illegal in California. These charges might be added if there were sexual communications.

Solicitation of a Minor Penalties

California has over 120,000 people on the state sex offender registry. Recently, a federal investigation called Operation Restore Justice resulted in 205 child sexual abuse offenders being arrested nationwide and 115 children being rescued.

Solicitation of a minor is often charged as a felony. Upon conviction, this could lead to years in prison, as well as thousands of dollars in fines. A felony solicitation charge also means mandatory sex offender registration.

A defendant, depending on the facts and any relevant records, could be required to undergo lifetime registration. A person must report to law enforcement on an annual or periodic basis and face strict limitations on where they can live and work.

Other Consequences

A convicted person may also face non-criminal penalties. A felony conviction for soliciting a minor may lead to the revocation of a professional license. Defendants can be dismissed from their jobs and lose their professional licenses, and they may also become ineligible to work with minors or have the public’s trust.

It can also be very difficult to secure housing, not only due to registration requirements, but also because of landlord background checks and local community ordinances that restrict where a registered offender can live. Divorce custody battles and visitation rights in family court often undergo significant changes when allegations lead to monitored visits or complete parental rights termination.