Maryland Solicitation of a Minor

Solicitation of a minor is a felony sex offense in Maryland. It is a crime in which no physical contact need occur for the accused to be charged or convicted of the crime. The mere attempt to entice or encourage a minor under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity is a criminal action, punishable by years in prison and registration as a Maryland Sex Offender. If you are being investigated for solicitation of a minor, or if you have been arrested for soliciting a minor, contacting an attorney with experience handling sex offense cases is a smart move. A criminal defense attorney can protect your rights through the investigation and criminal justice process, and can aggressively handle your defense against charges of solicitation of a minor.

Online Solicitation of a Minor in Maryland

Solicitation of a minor can occur in a face-to-face setting, but more commonly, people are charged with solicitation of a minor as a result of contact made over the internet, chat rooms, and text messages. Online solicitation of a minor is an internet sex crime and may be charged as a Federal offense. With national media and public scrutiny focusing on “online predators,” law enforcement frequently establishes sting operations with agents posing as minors online. While a person may think he or she is chatting with a teenager, he or she is really speaking with an undercover officer. These operations must be conducted very carefully in order to avoid entrapment of the accused.

If you have been arrested for solicitation of a minor as a result of an online sting, your Maryland solicitation of a minor lawyer can carefully scrutinize the procedures leading to your arrest. An improperly conducted operation may lead to a dismissal of your case.

Maryland Solicitation of a Minor Defense

Attorney Mirriam Z. Seddiq is a criminal defense attorney with more than twelve years’ experience handling serious felony cases. She is an experienced sex crime defense lawyer, representing defendants accused of Maryland sex offenses including solicitation of a minor. If you are being investigated for solicitation of a minor in Maryland, or if you have been accused of soliciting a minor online, immediately stop communication with the alleged victim, and decline to speak with police without the advice of your Maryland solicitation of a minor lawyer. Call criminal defense attorney Mirriam Z. Seddiq for a consultation of your case.