Luring

“Luring” is a very serious crime in Washington. At the Meryhew Law Group we have seen Luring charged for relatively innocent behavior, such as stopping to ask a minor for directions while driving in an unfamiliar neighborhood, as well as for actual attempts to lure a child into a car or away from a guardian. Sometimes what is actually relatively innocent behavior can be misconstrued and suddenly a person is on the nightly news, accused of attempting to lure a child. If you have been accused of Luring you need an attorney experienced with these cases, and many times you also need an attorney experienced in dealing with the media. At the Meryhew Law Group we have that experience to effectively tell your side of the story.

What Does the Government Have to Prove for a Person to be Found Guilty of Luring?

A person is guilty of Luring if the person “orders, lures, or attempts to lure” a minor (under 16 years of age), or a person with a developmental disability, into any area or building that is blocked from public view, into a motor vehicle, or away from any area or building around a bus, airport or other transportation terminal. The Government must also prove that the person did not have the consent of the parent or guardian of the minor or developmentally disabled person, and that the person was unknown to the minor or developmentally disabled person.

Defenses to Luring

Sometimes innocent behavior is nonetheless misconstrued by others, leading to the charges of Luring being brought against a person. Washington law does say it is a defense to the charge of Luring, which the accused must prove, that the person’s actions were reasonable under the circumstances at the time, and that the person had no intent to hard the safety or health of the minor child or the person with a developmental disability. If you have been accused of Luring talk to an experienced and aggressive defense attorney right away to make sure that your story is told.

Consequences of a Luring Conviction

Luring is a Class C felony with potentially serious consequences to your future employment and housing, as well as your right to vote and possess a firearm. This offense is not a sex offense that normally requires sex offender registration, but if the Government can prove that a person was motivated by sexual gratification to approach the child or developmentally disabled person then sex offender registration can be imposed for a minimum of ten years. Even without registration, this offense nonetheless carries with it the stigma of a sex offense against a child. Luring is an “unranked” felony for sentencing purposes, which means the Court can sentence a person convicted of Luring to anywhere from 0 to 365 days in jail.

Seattle Luring Attorney

At the Meryhew Law Group we have the experience and the tools to tell your story and help you defend yourself if you are accused of Luring. If you have been accused of Luring contact the Meryhew Law Group today for a free initial consultation.