Florida

Broward Man Admits to Trying to Meet Teen for Sex

A 50-year-old Coral Springs man admitted Friday that he arranged to meet a teenage boy for sex at a park in Lauderhill.

He faces 10 years to life in federal prison when he is sentenced Oct. 28.

The man pleaded guilty to one count of enticing or coercing a minor into engaging in sexual activity, though the two never met.

The man and the 14-year-old boy started emailing back and forth after the man responded to the teen’s Craigslist ad in early 2013, according to court records.

When they discussed meeting for sex, the boy apparently told the man that he was 15, though he was actually 14.

Prosecutors allege that the man sent the boy text messages and “made sexual inquiries and comments” in August 2013.

The phone the boy was using actually belonged to his mother and she turned it over to Lauderhill police.

A detective pretending to be the boy responded to the man’s texts for a month. The man allegedly arranged to meet the teen at West Wind Park in Lauderhill.

Prosecutors claim that they discussed the fact that the boy was a minor in several messages.

On the day of the arranged meeting, the man spoke with the undercover detective who he thought was the teen. Law enforcement officials followed the man from his home to the park and immediately arrested him.

According to prosecutors, they will recommend a sentence of 12 years in prison, however, the final decision is in the hands of  U.S. District Judge William Zloch. The man is currently being held in the Broward County Jail.

The legal system, along with society, tends to view sex crimes as some of the most horrific offenses a person can commit. Because of this, these crimes are aggressively prosecuted and cary very steep penalties. If convicted of a sexual offense, a person will likely serve many years in prison as well as be forced to register as a sex offender for the rest of their life. When charges involve a minor, the potential penalties are severely increased.

Sexually motivated charges can negatively affect a person’s job, reputation, relationships and social life. When faced with such serious allegations, having effective legal counsel to help guide you through the process from the beginning can make a huge impact on the outcome of your case.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a sex offense at the state or federal level, a Florida Sex Crimes Attorney at Whittel & Melton can analyze the facts of your case and determine all viable defenses. Please call us today at 561-367-8777 or contact us online for a free consultation.

Tue Aug 19, 1:33pm