Tampa Solicitation of a Minor Attorney
Charges involving the alleged solicitation of a minor carry some of the most serious consequences in Florida criminal law. A conviction does not simply mean jail time. It means mandatory sex offender registration, restrictions on where you can live and work, and a permanent public record that follows you for decades. Tampa solicitation of a minor attorney Omar Abdelghany of OA Law Firm represents individuals accused of these offenses throughout the Tampa Bay area, approaching every case with the same commitment to thorough investigation and direct attorney-client communication that defines the firm’s practice.
What Florida Law Actually Charges in These Cases
Florida Statute 847.0135 governs the solicitation of minors using electronic devices, and it is one of the most aggressively prosecuted statutes in the state. The law makes it a crime to use a computer, phone, or any online service to solicit a person believed to be a minor to engage in sexual conduct. The word “believed” matters here. A defendant can be charged even if no actual minor was ever involved, as long as law enforcement presented itself as a minor during the communication.
This creates a landscape where many people are prosecuted entirely on the basis of online conversations with undercover officers. No minor was harmed. No actual meeting occurred. Yet the charge carries the same weight under the statute as if one had.
The base offense under 847.0135 is a third-degree felony. Traveling or attempting to travel to meet the minor, called “traveling to meet a minor,” is a separate and distinct charge and escalates to a second-degree felony. Prosecutors frequently charge both offenses together when there is any evidence that a defendant left home with the intention of meeting someone. In Hillsborough County, these cases are pursued vigorously, and the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office has dedicated resources specifically to internet crimes against children.
How These Investigations Are Built and Why That Matters for Your Defense
The vast majority of solicitation of a minor cases in Tampa originate from undercover sting operations. Law enforcement agencies, sometimes in coordination with federal task forces like the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, create fake profiles on social media platforms, dating apps, and messaging services. An officer poses as a minor and engages in conversation. At some point, if the conversation turns toward sexual content or an in-person meeting, an arrest follows.
The way these investigations are conducted matters enormously in mounting a defense. Key questions include: Who initiated the sexual nature of the conversation? Did the undercover officer use aggressive or repeated prompting before the defendant responded? Was the defendant’s age actually disclosed in their profile, and did the officer’s profile represent an adult before switching to claiming to be a minor? Was the defendant’s identity confirmed through proper legal process, or were there chain-of-custody issues with the digital evidence?
Digital evidence in these cases includes chat logs, device images, and metadata. That evidence must be properly obtained, preserved, and authenticated. Challenging how law enforcement collected, stored, or presented digital evidence is one avenue that an experienced criminal defense lawyer will examine from the very beginning of representation.
Entrapment is another legitimate defense under Florida law. It applies when law enforcement induces someone to commit an offense they would not otherwise have committed. This is a specific legal standard, not simply saying “the police tricked me,” and whether it applies depends heavily on the specific facts of how the investigation unfolded. Omar reviews the investigative record carefully to determine whether government conduct crossed from legitimate investigation into improper inducement.
Sex Offender Registration and What a Conviction Really Means in Florida
Beyond prison time, a conviction for solicitation of a minor in Florida triggers mandatory sex offender registration under Florida Statute 943.0435. Registration is not a simple formality. It means reporting to law enforcement regularly, maintaining current address and employment information in a public database, and living under ongoing supervision. Florida’s registration requirements are among the strictest in the country.
Registered sex offenders in Florida face significant restrictions on where they may live, particularly near schools, parks, playgrounds, and bus stops. In a city like Tampa, where residential areas and schools are often close together, these restrictions can make finding stable housing genuinely difficult. Employment consequences compound this. Background checks will surface the conviction, and many professional licenses are affected or permanently barred following a sex crime conviction.
These consequences do not pause during an appeal. Once a conviction is entered and registration is triggered, the obligations begin. That reality is part of why how a case is handled at the investigation and pre-trial stage can matter more than what happens at trial.
Questions People Ask About These Charges
Can I be charged if I never actually met or contacted a real minor?
Yes. Florida law specifically covers solicitation of someone the defendant believed to be a minor. Undercover operations are built on this provision. The absence of an actual child in the conversation does not eliminate criminal liability under the statute.
Does an entrapment defense actually work in these cases?
Entrapment is a recognized defense in Florida, but it has a specific legal standard. It requires showing that law enforcement persuaded someone who was not predisposed to commit the offense. Courts analyze whether the idea and pressure originated with law enforcement or with the defendant. It is a viable defense in the right circumstances, not a universal escape from prosecution, and whether it applies depends entirely on the facts of the specific investigation.
What is the difference between solicitation and the “traveling to meet a minor” charge?
They are separate offenses. Solicitation under 847.0135 covers the online communication itself. The traveling charge applies when a defendant takes a physical step toward meeting the minor, such as driving to a location. Prosecutors often file both. The traveling charge is a second-degree felony, which carries a higher potential sentence and its own set of sentencing guidelines.
What happens at the federal level? Are these cases ever prosecuted federally?
Yes. Federal law also prohibits online solicitation of minors, and federal task forces are often involved in the initial investigations. Cases can be prosecuted in state court, federal court, or both. Omar Abdelghany is licensed in federal court in both the Middle District and Northern District of Florida, which means he can represent clients regardless of which court the case is filed in.
Will these charges show up on a background check even if I am not convicted?
An arrest record can appear on background checks even without a conviction. Florida does allow record sealing and expungement under certain circumstances, but a conviction for a sex offense generally disqualifies a person from those remedies. This is another reason why the outcome of the case itself, not just the eventual sentence, carries substantial long-term weight.
What should I do if law enforcement contacts me for questioning?
Do not answer questions without speaking to a lawyer first. This applies whether law enforcement contacts you by phone, comes to your home, or approaches you in person. You have the right to remain silent, and invoking that right is not an admission of guilt. Statements made before an attorney is present can and will be used in the prosecution’s case.
How does Omar handle communication during a case like this?
Omar personally handles all matters at OA Law Firm. Clients deal directly with him, not with a paralegal or associate. He makes attorney-client communication a priority and regularly provides clients with his cell phone number so that questions can be addressed promptly as they arise.
Defending Against Solicitation of a Minor Charges in Tampa
The decisions made in the early stages of a case like this, whether to talk to police, whether to contest or accept terms, whether to challenge digital evidence or pursue a particular defense theory, can shape everything that follows. These are not decisions to delay. Once law enforcement has made contact or an arrest has occurred, the investigation is already underway, and the defense needs to be as well.
OA Law Firm defends clients against solicitation of a minor charges throughout Tampa, Hillsborough County, and the surrounding areas of the Tampa Bay region. Omar Abdelghany built this firm around the principle that every person accused of a crime is entitled to a thorough, direct, and honest defense, regardless of the nature of the charges. He reviews the evidence, identifies the strongest arguments available, and keeps clients informed at every stage. Contact OA Law Firm to speak directly with a Tampa minor solicitation defense attorney about your case.
