Defining online solicitation of a minor in Texas

Posted By Law Offices of Jeffrey C. Grass || 24-Sep-2015

Here at The Law Offices of Jeffrey C. Grass, we’ve worked with a number of clients in Dallas whose Internet activity has landed them in legal hot water. While the teens or young adults in your house may think that their online actions are playful or innocent, legal authorities could potentially see them as criminal acts. One criminal statute that offers up the potential for the young people in your life to walk into is online solicitation of a minor.

If you are like most, then you likely associate this crime with adults attempting to lure children into illicit encounters. Indeed, Texas state law specifies it as such, defining online solicitation of a minor as a person, either by email, text, or via the Internet, knowingly arranging a meeting with another individual under the age of 17 with the expressed purpose of engaging in sexual activity. It also includes sexually explicit communications or material sent via online or electronic media as qualifying as a crime under this statute, as well.

Scenarios were your young adult or teenage son or daughter engages in such suggestive communication or arranged such an encounter with a potential romantic interest could be classified as an illegal action according to this law. However, the law does recognize the potential for such a situation. If your kid is no more than three years older than the minor in question, and provided he or she had the minor’s consent in sending such content, he or she may be able to avoid prosecution.

More information on defending young adults against internet crimes can be found on our site.