Individuals may not legally contact a minor to commit a felony in California. The courts use Penal Code 288.3 to prosecute this act. PC 288.3 charges are a felony in California. This means that a conviction could result in prison time and fines.
Specific felonies are associated with PC 288.3 charges. Many of them are related to sex crimes. Child sexual abuse is harshly punished in our state. The Simmrin Law Group can help you learn more about how to fight this charge.
Charges Involved with Contacting a Minor to Commit a Felony
There are several elements associated with a PC 288.3 charge. All of these elements must be present in order for an individual to get convicted. Individuals may incur a PC 288.3 violation if they:
- Contact or communicate with a minor, or
- Attempt to contact or communicate with a minor
- In order to commit a specific felony
Individuals may be convicted of this charge if they knew the individual they were contacting was a minor. However, they may also face this charge even if they did not know they were speaking to a minor.
California defines minors as anyone under the age of 18. Contacting a minor with the intent to commit a felony is a crime. This is true even if the minor refuses to carry out the criminal act.
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Charges Under PC 288.3
Communication can occur in several ways for a PC 288.3 violation to be committed. Individuals could make in-person contact with a minor. However, this is not the only type of contact that could lead to criminal charges. Individuals may also face prosecution if they contact a minor:
- Through a print medium like a magazine or newspaper
- With a letter through the mail
- With a phone or radio communication
- Over the internet or with email
There are many different ways to contact a minor in California. In some cases, the contact may be indirect. For example, if an adult enlists someone else to deliver a message to a minor on their behalf, this could still result in PC 288.3 charges.
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Felony Charges Associated with a PC 288.3 Offense
PC 288.3 does not cover all felony-level offenses in California. Adults must contact a minor with the intent to commit specific felonies to face these charges. Felonies that are tied to PC 288.3 charges include:
- Kidnapping
- Rape
- Child endangerment
- Sodomy
- Oral copulation with a minor child
- Lewd acts with a child under 14
- Sending harmful materials to a minor
These are only some of the felonies associated with a PC 288.3 charge. The majority of the felonies tied to a PC 288.3 charge are sex crimes.
Find out more about sex crime charges in California by reaching out to a criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles for additional information. Just call (310) 896-2723 now.
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Results of a Conviction for Contacting a Minor to Commit a Felony
The penalties for a PC 288.3 conviction vary and are based on the penalties for the felony associated with the charge. However, a conviction will generally result in prison time. In some cases, individuals could spend up to 13 years in prison. They may also face fines of up to $10,000.
Individuals convicted under PC 288.3 also have to register as sex offenders.
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Defenses Against PC 288.3 Convictions in California
A criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles can help you build a defense if you were accused of a PC 288.3 violation. In some cases, a lawyer could work to show that:
- You didn’t intend to commit a felony
- You didn’t know you were speaking with a minor
- You were entrapped
These defenses can help if you are accused of contacting a minor to commit a felony in California. A lawyer can help you defend your case in court.
Find Out More About PC 288.3 Charges in California
Crimes involving minors are very serious in the state of California. Penal Code 288.3 is used to prosecute the act of contacting a minor to commit a felony. Many of the felonies associated with this charge are sex crimes. The Simmrin Law Group can help you fight a sex crime charge in California. Find out more by calling us at (310) 896-2723, or complete our online contact form.
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