Indecent Behavior Juveniles Attorney
The Crime of indecent behavior with a juvenile under Louisiana law is very serious. A defendant facing this charge is looking at possible incarceration at hard labor and mandatory sex offender registration. This sex crime often has additional consequences that may follow you for the rest of your life, and adversely impact your ability to obtain housing, education, or employment.
Generally, this offense is seen when an adult sends a text message or an email that contains nude images to a juvenile or the adult sends an email or text message discussing sexual activities to a juvenile. It is not uncommon for law enforcement officials to set up sting operations by trolling chat rooms and smart phone apps in search of potential offenders. The fact that the defendant was not communicating with a juvenile but rather a law enforcement officer working through a cybercrime sting is not a defense. The law clearly states that the offender only needs to reasonably believe that the person receiving the communication is under the age of 17.
Louisiana Indecent Behavior Juveniles Attorney
To win a conviction,prosecutors are required to prove that the offender intended to deliver the communication for sexual arousal or gratification. Our award winning attorney, Elizabeth B. Carpenter, has defended many individuals who have been criminally charged with the crime of Indecent Behavior with Juveniles throughout the state of Louisiana. She is highly experienced in dealing with sex crimes and has assisted individuals facing such accusations by attempting to have charges reduced, dismissed or mitigated.
Statutorily, Indecent Behavior with Juveniles is defined as follows:
- Any lewd or lascivious act upon the person or in the presence of any child under the age of 17, where there is an age difference of greater than 2 years between the two persons. Lack of knowledge of the child’s age shall not be a defense;
- or
- The transmission, delivery or utterance of any textual, visual, written, or oral communication depicting lewd or lascivious conduct, text, words, or images to any person reasonably believed to be under the age of seventeen and reasonably believed to be at least two years younger than the offender. It shall not be a defense that the person who actually receives the transmission is not under the age of 17. The law only requires that the defendant believed the person to be under the age of 17.
The law defines “textual, visual, written, or oral communication” as any communication of any kind, whether electronic or otherwise, made through the use of the United States mail, any private carrier, personal courier, computer online service, Internet service, local bulletin board service, Internet chat room, electronic mail, online messaging service, or personal delivery or contact.
Contact: New Orleans Sex Crimes Attorney
If you or a loved one has been arrested for Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile, an experienced sex crimes defense attorney can assist you. Attorney Elizabeth Bagert Carpenter has represented many individuals who have been charged with this crime. She is ready to help you. Please contact our office today with any questions and to schedule a consultation. 504-599-5955