Child Enticementi GA: Laws and Penalties
Augusta Georgia Child Enticement Lawyer
Child enticement is persuasion of a child by an adult to accompany him or her with sexual activity as motive. Child enticement laws are under the jurisdiction of the state. Child enticement can include the following:
• Enticement of child through the internet for sexual activity.
• Enticement of child for soliciting prostitution.
• Child being lured through telephone.’
• Child enticed and taken in a vehicle – child can be persuaded to enter a car.
• Persuading and trying to lure a child away.
• Allure child to a remote place and provide him with drugs.
• Cause child to be exposed to pornography.
The penalties for child enticement vary with federal and state laws. Nevertheless, the penalties would be harsh and severe. The punishments can be period of probation, fines, incarceration, counseling and inclusion on the register for sex offenders of the relevant jurisdiction.
The sentencing largely depends on whether the crime has been charged as a felony or a misdemeanor. Since children are considered by law as innocent and unaware of what is right and wrong, enticing them for performing illegal activities, serving them alcohol, subjecting them to sexual abuse are all criminal crimes committed against children.
Those crimes charged as felony are liable for more severe punishments but even misdemeanors can amount to imprisonment and registration in sex offenders’ registry. According to the federal laws, all child enticement cases are considered as felony and in most states also is it the same. But there are certain cases wherein misdemeanor can also be charged for certain child enticement incidents. Mostly child enticement cases where the victim is a teenager between 14 and 17 are considered as misdemeanors. Hence presence of aggravating or mitigating circumstances as well as facts surrounding conviction would decide severity of incarceration.
Fixed fines are levied on child enticement cases in the states. The fine amount is directly proportional to cruelty of crime. Thus a felony crime would be fined more as compared to misdemeanor crimes. Apart from imprisonment and fines, there are other penalties that are levied on child enticement accused. These can include counseling sessions, treatment as stated by court, probation, even designation of permanent sex offender.
Child enticement cases are very complex and require immediate consultation and hiring of experienced legal professionals. These cases usually attract lot of attention from media and the public; hence the pressure of being in limelight also would have to be accounted for. The problem with child enticement cases are that testimonies by children are not completely reliable and can lead to distortion of facts and course of events, allowing the criminal to get off. Expert handling of case is mandatory since child enticement is a crime against community and freedom. They have a tremendous effect on your life.