If you face allegations, arrest, or charges related to child trafficking in Phoenix, you should consider hiring a knowledgeable and skilled attorney immediately. These are serious accusations, and the consequences of a conviction could alter most aspects of your everyday life. A Phoenix child trafficking charges lawyer can protect your rights, develop a strong defense, and fight for a positive outcome in your case.
At Gurion Legal, our team is here for you. We represent clients accused of serious sex crimes and other major criminal offenses. Contact us today if you face allegations or if a loved one was arrested on suspicion of child trafficking. We can go to work on these cases immediately.
Our founding partner, Omer Gurion, is a State Bar of Arizona Certified Specialist in criminal law. He understands how the criminal justice system works, how to navigate it, and what it takes to get the best possible outcome for his clients. We represent those who contend with false allegations, criminal charges, and other accusations of wrongdoing in Phoenix.
We know how to secure positive outcomes for our clients, whether that is a reduced sentence, a dismissal of charges, or a not-guilty verdict in court. Attorney Gurion is known for his relentless negotiating skills and abilities as a litigator, building strong defenses in even the most complex cases.
We regularly secure wins by preventing prosecutors from filing charges, negotiating a fair agreement, and completing jury trials. While our past experience does not guarantee we can do the same in your case, it shows we know how to fight for our clients and prevent them from facing the harshest consequences of a conviction.
When our team works on a Phoenix child sex trafficking case, we take steps to understand what happened and develop a defense strategy in response. First, we have to get to the bottom of exactly what occurred. This often begins with an honest conversation with our client. We ask them questions and listen to their side of the story, asking them to recount every detail possible.
This helps us to see things from our client’s point of view, but it also gives us an opportunity to look for any mistakes made by the police. We have a chance to evaluate law enforcement’s evidence and the case prosecutors are building against our client.
Throughout this process, we represent the client and protect their rights.
We are by their side during:
We also take steps to strengthen their defense and get a better outcome in the case by:
Even in the most complex cases, there are ways to get a better outcome. Our criminal defense attorneys are known for their negotiating skills and can do everything possible to safeguard your future.
Child trafficking is prohibited by ARS 13-3212. Under this statute, you can be charged with child sex trafficking for engaging in a wide variety of activities, including the following:
An explicit performance includes any demonstration that is designed to arouse another person and could include a strip show or other performance of a sexual activity.
An adult who is 18 or older knowingly engages in child trafficking when he or she does any of the following things:
Under the statute, you cannot defend against a child trafficking charge by arguing that the child was actually an undercover officer pretending to be a minor or someone who is helping the police by pretending to be younger than age 18.
Sex trafficking is a significant problem nationwide, and many states have taken steps to catch, convict, and penalize those responsible. This is especially true when many victims are teens, preteens, and children. Child trafficking is considered one of the worst sex crimes in Phoenix, so having a strong defense is imperative.
Under state law, you might face child sex trafficking accusations if the state alleges you:
Many possible scenarios can lead to child sex trafficking charges in Phoenix. Regardless of the circumstances, our team can help. We want to hear your side of the story, assess the case against you, and develop a strong strategy to defend you from the harsh consequences of a conviction. We recommend consulting our team as soon as possible after learning about child trafficking allegations. We are here to support you.
Phoenix child trafficking charges are felonies. This includes Class 6 or Class 2 felonies, depending on the offense that led to the arrest. Your situation determines the charges you could face. In many cases, people face multiple individual charges.
Here’s what to know about Class 6 and Class 2 felonies:
A lesser Phoenix child trafficking charge is engaging in prostitution with a minor aged 15 or over when you did not know they were underage. This is generally a Class 6 felony. All other trafficking charges are Class 2 felonies.
If convicted of a Class 6 felony, you could face:
If you knew the minor was underage, even if they were age 15 or over, this is a Class 2 felony. In general, your possible sentence depends on the child’s age and any related criminal history on your record. This and the circumstances of the case play a significant role in sentencing.
When it comes to Class 2 felonies, convictions could result in:
When an alleged victim is under 15 years old, there are enhanced penalties under state laws related to dangerous crimes against children (DCAC).
These are still Class 2 felonies, but the possible sentences include:
In addition to a prison sentence, a conviction could also call for fines, probation, and registration as a sex offender. Then, there are the social consequences of these arrests and convictions. A prison sentence disrupts your education or career. Personal relationships could falter. Limits on activities for convicted sex offenders could also change your relationship with your children.
In many cases, those charged with a child sex trafficking offense also face additional charges. Our team defends the client based on the entirety of their case, building a defense that provides a path to the best possible outcome. You do not have to look for someone else who knows how to handle other charges you might face, including probation violations. We strive to offer comprehensive legal help to those in need.
The best possible outcome will come from avoiding facing sex trafficking charges, when possible. Time is critical in these cases. You could face an arrest and criminal charges within hours of learning of the allegations against you. We need time to challenge the other party’s evidence and present your side of the story.
Sometimes, however, sharing your version of events isn’t enough to dismiss the charges you face. Once our client faces child trafficking charges, we need to move on and create a defense strategy.
Our goal may be to:
The defense we use in your case will depend greatly on the circumstances and what happened. However, some common examples include:
Mistaken identity happens in these cases. It is possible that the police or a victim identified the wrong individual. If this happened to you, we need to establish where you were at the time of the supposed event. We also need to build a case showing your activities that day. When possible, we can also present evidence to identify the perpetrator.
All child sex trafficking crimes are intentional acts. You cannot accidentally violate these laws. The prosecution must provide evidence to show that you knew or should have known you were violating the law when you participated in the alleged illegal acts. The burden of proof is on the prosecutors, and they need to show that your guilt is “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Our job is to raise reasonable doubts in the minds of jurors.
Many child sex trafficking crimes center on prostitution. Prostitution requires that money or something of value is exchanged or promised. When this does not occur, the crime is not prostitution. You could still face charges of another crime related to sex with a minor, but we can argue that prosecutors do not have the evidence to prove prostitution occurred. If successful, this could lessen the charges you face.
When the police detain or arrest someone, that individual has rights. When law enforcement fails to uphold those rights, it can jeopardize the evidence they collect. This could lead to the court banning some evidence, dismissing charges, and more.
In child trafficking cases, we see the police violating our clients’ rights in several ways:
It is important to understand that law enforcement agencies often run sting operations to catch child traffickers. This could include using officers who are adults to pose as children. Not all adults can pass as children, however. If this played a role in your case, we can argue that you believed you were engaging with an adult and do not deserve child trafficking charges.
Some interactions (especially when drugs and alcohol are involved) can get confusing. You may have interacted with an underage sex worker with no intentions of engaging in illicit activity. You might also not have known their actual age, clouding your judgment.
We can use witness testimony, surveillance footage, and other information to paint a picture of what actually happened. We hope to show that you never intended to engage in sexual activity with a minor, and this is an unfortunate misunderstanding.
Here’s a hypothetical scenario in which we may secure a reduction in the charges you face. This would not eliminate probation, fines, or jail time, but it could lessen their impacts on your future.
Imagine you face charges for engaging in prostitution with a 14-year-old. This is generally a Class 2 felony charge. However, we show that you believed the teenager when they claimed to be 17. Prostitution with a 17-year-old is a Class 6 felony. If we can convince prosecutors to lessen the charge, you could face significantly fewer penalties and possibly avoid sex offender registration.
Child trafficking is a serious crime, and you should not try to fight accusations or charges on your own. We have someone available to discuss your case and options with you now. We are ready to review your case, talk about your defense, and weigh your next steps. It might be possible for our team to negotiate your release, reduce the charges you face, or clear your name altogether.
Contact us to learn more about how our criminal defense law firm. Dial (480) 800-0020.