Personal devices connect us instantly to millions of online users. Teenagers and children are no exception. Many minors have social media accounts and routinely visit websites that allow contact between users. Unfortunately, an adult could be charged with one or more crimes involving minors stemming from contact with a minor online. Our Seattle sex crimes defense attorney discusses how to protect yourself from inadvertent contact online with minors.
When Can Contact Online with a Minor Become a Crime?
CMIP (Communication with a Minor for Immoral Purposes) is an example of how you could be charged with a crime by inadvertently contacting a minor online. Under Washington law, it is illegal for a person to communicate with a minor for immoral purposes.
Communication includes talking to a minor in person or on the telephone. It also includes communicating with a minor by any electronic means, including online. Immoral purposes include discussing sexual conduct and showing a minor a sexually explicit image. However, it also includes using sexual words or obscene language.
A comment online could be misconstrued and result in a gross misdemeanor charge. However, the charge can increase to a felony for repeat offenders or individuals with specific felony sexual convictions.
In addition to state charges, you could face federal charges for communicating with a minor online to engage in sexual conduct. If you are arrested, you should seek immediate legal advice from an experienced sex crimes attorney in Seattle, WA.
How to Avoid Inadvertently Communicating with a Minor Online?
As more children are online, state and federal agencies have increased enforcement of laws aimed at keeping children safe online. It is crucial that adults take precautions to avoid communicating with minors online. Even an innocent conversation could be misinterpreted or taken out of context.
Unfortunately, it can be challenging to know if you are communicating with a minor or an adult. You might visit a website that has an age restriction so you feel safe speaking freely. However, the vast majority of age verification tools rely on the user inputting their birth year or checking a box confirming they are over 18 years old. A minor can easily get past this type of verification.
Therefore, when you are online, you can never be sure if you are speaking with a minor, an adult, or an officer involved in a sting operation. Some things you can do to protect yourself include:
- Only visit adult websites that use verification tools designed to prevent minors from accessing the site
- Ask a person their age instead of assuming you are speaking with an adult
- Ask other questions that help determine a person’s age, including where they work, when they graduated, and age-specific questions (i.e., what was their favorite cartoon character in elementary school)
- Never rely on pictures or profiles to indicate age
- Be cautious of agreeing to video chats without knowing a person’s age
You can never be certain who you are speaking with online until you see them in real time or meet them in person. Meeting someone you met online in person can pose significant risks. The best way to protect yourself is to avoid discussing anything of a sexual nature with someone online unless you can verify their age with absolute certainty.
Schedule a Consultation with a Seattle Criminal Defense Attorney
Adults must be extremely cautious when interacting online with a minor. An innocent mistake could result in criminal charges. Schedule a consultation with Jennifer Horwitz if you are being accused of a crime involving a minor.