Section 2422 (a) and (b) of Title 18 of the United States Code: On Solicitation of a Minor

Posted by Chell in Sex Crimes

Section 2422 (a) and (b) of Title 18 of the United States Code says:

a) “Whoever knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual to travel in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any Territory or Possession of the United States, to engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both;” and,

b) “Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce, or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual who has not attained the age of 18 years, to engage in prostitution or any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned not less than 10 years or for life.”

Once a convicted felon is release from federal prison, he/she is required under the law to register as a sex offender for the rest of his/her life. Failure to comply with this mandate would result to a new felony offense that carries up to 10 years in prison and considerable fines.

The crime of solicitation of a minor, which is defined as the deliberate persuasion or enticement of a child under the age of 16, to enter any form of dwelling for purposes that include engaging in a sexual activity, can be committed by anyone despite not actually carrying out the sexual activity that he/she intended to commit. The mere attempt to solicit or entice a child is enough for one to be pronounced guilty of this sex crime.

As explained by the Nashville sex offense lawyers at Horst Law, this offense can also be committed electronically, through emails or text messages a computer a cell phone or any other electronic device.