What Is Importuning?

Being charged with a sex crime can be devastating, and most people find the legal process for these crimes to be overwhelming and confusing. Your alleged offense may be described as importuning, but this term is certainly foreign to most people. Charges for importuning involve defendants who have supposedly encouraged or solicited a minor to engage in a sexual activity of some kind. Sex offenses involving minors can result in large fines, years in prison, and permanent sex offender status. For these reasons, it is important to seek an experienced Houston child sex abuse lawyer to fight for your rights throughout the life of the case.

As a Houston criminal defense attorney with years of experience, attorney Ned Barnett understands the help you need if you have been charged with a sex crime. Contact The Law Offices of Ned Barnett as soon as possible if you are ready to protect your rights and fight these serious charges. Call us today at (713) 222-6767 for a free case consultation.

Situations Which Can Lead To An Accusation Of Importuning

Sex crimes that involve minors are taken very seriously, and an accusation of importuning may follow from many different types of cases that involve someone who is underage. However, cases of importuning have become more prevalent over the last several decades due to advances in communication and technology. Many people under the age of 18 use mobile phones and the internet on a daily basis, and law enforcement has become very concerned that this technology will put children in communication with those who are seeking to sexually exploit them.

While you can be charged with an importuning-related crime for many reasons, some of the most common scenarios that we have seen result in this charge would include:

• Asking a minor to send you sexually explicit information or material
• Seeking to create a sexual relationship with a minor with whom you have contact via email, social media, or in-person communication
• Calling or texting an underage person and discussing sexually graphic material, or requesting they meet you to engage in a sexual act
• Asking someone to put you in contact with a minor in order to create a sexual relationship

Defenses To Accusations Of Importuning

Engaging in sexual activity with a minor, or simply trying to coerce a minor into a sexual relationship via communications in person, on the phone, or over the internet, can land you in prison and require you to register as a sex offender. However, charges of importuning are often difficult for the prosecution to prove, and therefore it is important to stay calm if you are accused. An experienced Houston sex crimes attorney can help protect your rights if the police or prosecutor is trying to gain leverage over you with a charge of a serious sexual offense.

Since cases involving importuning often do not involve a physical sexual act, they tend to be made around the question of the accused person’s intent to have a sexual relationship with someone who is underage. Depending on the details of your case, your defense for a charge of importuning may be one of the following:

• You are a victim of entrapment by the police.
• The minor lied to you about their age.
• The contact took place in an internet forum or chat room that only grants access to those claiming to be adults.
• You did not actually express interest in engaging in sexual activity with the minor.
• Someone else was using your computer or phone

The Law Offices of Ned Barnett Can Help You

Charges of importuning are very serious and can be intimidating for anyone, and an experienced lawyer can understand how the prosecution will proceed with this charge given the details of your case. Attorney Ned Barnett has helped many people stay out of prison when they have faced serious sex charges involving a minor, and he can help you protect your rights during this difficult time. If you have been accused of a crime involving importuning, it is important to seek legal help as soon as possible.

To speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney, contact The Law Offices of Ned Barnett today. Contact us today at (713) 222-6767.