Luring Defense Attorney

Union, Monmouth, Middlesex, Ocean County Sex Crime Lawyer

Luring is a serious criminal charge that applies when a person persuades or entices a child into a vehicle or isolated area in order to commit a sexual offense with or against the child. Like other sexual abuse crimes, a conviction for luring can lead to jail time, fines, and registration as a sex offender. The stigma attached to sex offenses involving children is severe, and even if you’re innocent, just being accused of a luring crime can damage your reputation forever.

If you’ve been charged with luring in Union, Monmouth, Middlesex, or Ocean County, you need a knowledgeable and experienced sex crime defense attorney who will defend your right to be treated as innocent until proven guilty and who will press every available legal defense.

I am Anthony N. Palumbo and I am a criminal defense attorney at The Law Offices of Anthony N. Palumbo. I know how serious luring charges can be and with more than 35 years of experience as a former prosecutor and public defender, I know the best strategies to protect your rights. To learn what I can do to reduce or eliminate your charges, contact me online or at 908-272-9700 for a free initial consultation. Together we’ll go through the circumstances of the alleged offense, the process ahead, possible defenses, and the likely outcome of your case.

Second Degree Luring

Under the definition of luring in the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice, a person commits the crime of second degree luring if he attempts, via electronic or any other means, to lure or entice a child under the age of 18 into a motor vehicle, structure, or isolated area, or to meet or appear at any other place, with a purpose to commit a criminal offense with or against the child. A conviction for second degree luring carries a penalty of 5 to 10 years in prison, and may also trigger sex offender registration requirements under Megan’s Law.

Mandatory Imprisonment

The penalties for luring a child are harsh, and they are even more severe for repeat offenders. Under New Jersey law, a person convicted of a second or subsequent luring offense faces a mandatory minimum term of one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed, or 3 years, whichever is greater. During this period, the offender is ineligible for parole, and the court may not suspend the sentence or order any other non-custodial disposition.

Having a criminal record can also lead to more severe penalties, and a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years without parole is required if the offender has previously been convicted of sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, or child endangerment.

Defenses

If you’ve been charged with luring a minor, you may be able to defeat the charges by raising

various legal defenses such as Fourth Amendment search and seizure violations, Miranda rights violations, lack of evidence proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, or errors that occurred during trial. Unlawful entrapment-meaning police conduct that would coerce an otherwise law-abiding individual to commit the crime under similar circumstances-may also be a defense. Entrapment and coercion are common defenses to luring charges resulting from sting operations, such as cases where undercover law enforcement officers pose as minors in internet chat rooms and social media forums and convince the offender to travel to meet a person he thinks is a child.

Contact The Law Offices of Anthony N. Palumbo

Prosecutors in New Jersey take an aggressive stance toward child sex crimes, and if you’ve been arrested on luring a child charges, you could be facing serious penalties if you don’t have strong legal representation. Don’t wait until it’s too late to fight your charges-consult with an lawyer as soon as possible.

To meet with me, Anthony N. Palumbo, for a free and confidential consultation, call 908-272-9700 or contact me online. I will go through the facts of your case, explain how the court will proceed with your charges, and discuss all of the possible legal strategies that could be used on your behalf. I have the skills and experience to vigorously defend your case and help you through this difficult legal process, and even if you decide not to retain my services, the consultation is entirely confidential, so you can get answers to all of your questions about luring and other New Jersey sex crimes.