Solicitation of a Minor

Defending Against Accosting and Solicitation of a Minor in West Michigan

“In Grand Rapids, ‘Solicitation of a Minor’ is legally prosecuted under two primary statutes. You need a lawyer who understands the nuances of both to keep you out of prison.

• Accosting for Immoral Purposes (MCL 750.145a): This involves enticing or soliciting a child under 16. It is a Class F Felony punishable by up to 4 years in prison.

• Internet Solicitation (MCL 750.145d): If a computer or the internet was used to communicate, the penalties skyrocket. This is often a 20-year felony if the underlying intent involved a serious crime.

The Shawn Haff Warning: The law states it is irrelevant if you knew the person’s actual age. If you even believed they were under 16, you can be charged. This is why you must hire the best West Michigan attorney around Shawn Haff right away.”

High-Level Technical Defense: Sting Operations & Entrapment

Challenging “Police Stings” and Digital Entrapment

“Many solicitation arrests in Kent County are the result of undercover sting operations. Shawn Haff is an expert at identifying Entrapment.

• The ‘Overbearing’ Defense: If an undercover officer pressured, coerced, or used ‘baiting’ tactics that induced you to commit a crime you otherwise wouldn’t have, the case may be dismissed.

• Digital Attribution: Just because a message came from your IP address doesn’t mean you sent it. We use forensic experts to prove that shared devices, open Wi-Fi, or even ‘spoofed’ accounts are to blame.

• Lack of Intent: We aggressively challenge the ‘intent to induce an immoral act.’ If the conversation was misinterpreted by aggressive detectives, we fight to clear your name.”

SORA and The “Life Sentence” of Registration

Protecting Your Name from the Michigan Sex Offender Registry

“A conviction for Solicitation of a Minor is often a Tier II offense, requiring 25 years of public registration on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry (SORA). This is a ‘social life sentence’ that affects where you live, work, and travel.

Shawn Haff specializes in ‘Non-SORA’ resolutions. We work to negotiate charges down to non-registrable offenses or fight for ‘Delayed Sentences’ that keep your record clean. We move with professional urgency because we know that your life depends on it.”

Grand Rapids Solicitation Defense FAQ

• Is ‘Solicitation of a Minor’ always a felony? Yes, in Michigan, these charges are felonies from the first offense and carry significant prison time.

• Can a solicitation charge be reduced? Often, yes. By attacking the ‘intent’ or the ‘internet use’ elements, Shawn Haff has a proven track record of getting these charges reduced to misdemeanors or dismissed entirely.

• What should I do if a detective contacts me? Do not speak to them. Detectives use ‘friendly’ conversations to get you to admit to ‘intent.’ Call 616-438-6719 immediately before you say a word.

In Michigan, we have two statutes that cover the crime of solicitation of a minor.

MCL 750.145a is called Accosting, Enticing or Soliciting Child for Immoral Purpose. This statue involves soliciting or encouragement of a child less than 16 years of age with the intent to induce that child to commit an immoral act, sexual intercourse or an act of gross indecency, or to any other act of depravity or delinquency. This is a felony. It is punishable by incarceration of up to 4 years in prison. It also has a fine that could cost someone $4,000.00, or both.

MCL 750.145d is called use of Internet to Solicit a Child (Under Age 18) to Commit a Sexual Act. This law carries with it a maximum term imprisonment of 20 years. Here are some of the other penalties this statue carries:

If the underlying crime is a misdemeanor or a felony with a maximum term of imprisonment of 2 years or more but less than 4 years, the person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 4 years or a fine of not more than $5,000.00, or both.

• If the underlying crime is a felony punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years or more but less than 15 years, the person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 15 years or a fine of not more than $10,000.00, or both.
• If the underlying crime is a felony punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years or more or for life, the person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 20 years or a fine of not more than $20,000.00, or both.
• A lot of cases that deal with solicitation of a minor using the internet may involve undercover police representing to be minors on websites or internet chat rooms.

If you are given reason to believe you are talking to a minor, and you are talking about meeting up to have sex with this person on the internet, it is a crime. The negative impact of a criminal sex charge with a minor is massive. You face prison, registration as a sex offender, probation and fines.