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If you have been charged with traveling to meet a minor anywhere in the state of Florida, selecting a trusted criminal defense attorney should be your first priority. This offense is related to traveling in Florida for the purpose of engaging in unlawful sexual activity with a minor after meeting the minor via the Internet. Because it is a crime directed at children, it is aggressively prosecuted. That means you will need an equally competent and aggressive defender in your corner as soon as possible.

At Katz & Phillips, P.A., you can rely on a team of capable and dedicated criminal defense attorneys who have been recognized by many legal industry groups as top-flight professionals. Our team includes former prosecutors who know how the state will work, including the tactics it will use to try to convict you. Armed with that inside knowledge, we will act on your behalf with all of our considerable legal ability, resources, and combined knowledge to create a defense aimed at the best possible outcome. At our firm, you will have the benefit of many legal minds; we will roll up our sleeves in a combined effort to minimize the consequences of this charge and any related charges.

The Law Explained by a Florida Traveling to Meet a Minor Attorney

The law regarding traveling to meet a minor is described under Title XLVI Chapter 847 of the Florida Statutes. This law is known as the “Computer Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act.” It outlaws the possession, sales, or dissemination of child pornography as well as the use of the Internet to “seduce, solicit, lure, or entice” a minor or someone the defendant believes is a minor or to engage in any unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. As part of the overall law, it includes traveling any distance within the state, to the state, or from the state for the purpose of engaging in the above outlawed behavior. The traveling charge is generally filed in combination with the charge of soliciting a minor for unlawful sex through the use of a computer; it is classified as a second-degree felony.

Even if the defendant did not know that the person solicited was not a minor, he can still be charged with this offense. In many cases, law enforcement task forces seeking to identify and prosecute anyone violating this law may engage in undercover campaigns using adults posing as minors.

If you are convicted of this charge, the penalties include 21 months up to 15 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. You may also face up to 15 years of sex offender probation.

When You Need a Florida Traveling to Meet a Minor Law Firm, Call Katz & Phillips, P.A.

The sooner you contact our firm, the sooner we can get to work to ensure that your rights are protected, that you are treated fairly, and that everything that can be done is done to ensure you have an effective defense. Early intervention on our part can often lead to legal options that will save you unnecessary stress and hardship. Contact us for a free, initial consultation to get the legal advice and support you need today.