Accosting a Child for Immoral Purposes

Accosting a child for immoral purposes and other sex crimes involving children are generally considered the most heinous offenses a person can commit, and they are aggressively prosecuted in Michigan. Merely because a person is charged with a crime does not mean that there is adequate evidence to obtain a conviction, though, and in many cases, the prosecution fails to establish guilt. If you are accused of accosting a child for immoral purposes in Michigan, it is vital to retain an attorney who can protect your rights and defend your freedom. Sam Bernstein of ArborYpsi Law is a trusted Ann Arbor criminal defense lawyer who understands the seriousness of such charges and the devastating impact they can have on your life, and if you engage his services, he will create an effective defense strategy designed to help you seek the best possible legal outcome in your case.

In Michigan, it is unlawful to accost a child for purposes that are deemed immoral is unlawful. Specifically, the Michigan penal code dictates that an individual that solicits, entices, or accosts a child who is under the age of 16, with the express intent of forcing or inducing the child to engage in sexual intercourse, gross indecency, an immoral act, or any other delinquent or depraved act, is guilty of accosting a child for immoral purposes. It is important to note that a person can be convicted of this crime regardless of whether they know the child’s actual age.

People can also be convicted if they engage in such acts with a person that they believe is a child that is less than 16 years old. People can be found guilty of accosting a child for immoral purposes if they encourage a child under 16 or someone they believe to be a child under 16 in such acts as well.

Accosting a child for immoral purposes can be committed through various means, such as through a phone call, text message, or internet chat room. Accosting a child for immoral purposes is a felony that carries a punishment of up to four years in prison and a fine of up to $4,000.00, or both imprisonment and a fine. People convicted of accosting a child for immoral purposes will most likely be required to register as sex offenders as well.

In Michigan criminal matters, the prosecution carries the burden of proving, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant committed the charged offense. There is no exact definition for beyond a reasonable doubt, but it has generally been explained to mean that the prosecution must offer evidence that weighs so heavily in favor of the defendant’s guilt that no rational person could review the evidence and come to any conclusion other than that the defendant engaged in the alleged illegal activity.

To meet this burden, the prosecution must establish each element of the charged offense. In other words, in order to prove a criminal defendant accosted a child for immoral purposes, the prosecution typically must prove that the defendant acted with specific intent. If it cannot, its case should fail. Criminal defendants, on the other hand, do not carry a burden of proof. In other words, they do not have to offer evidence of their innocence or prove they did not commit the charged offense.

The crime of accosting a child for immoral purposes is a serious offense that carries severe penalties in Michigan. If you are facing charges of accosting a child for immoral purposes in Michigan, you should contact an attorney immediately. Sam Bernstein of ArborYpsi Law is a dedicated Ann Arbor criminal defense lawyer with ample experience defending people charged with serious crimes, and if he represents you, he will fight tirelessly to help you protect your rights, and your reputation. Our office is located in Ann Arbor, and we often defend parties charged with sex crimes throughout Michigan, including cities in Ann Arbor, East Lansing, Dearborn, and Flint. You can contact us through our online form or by calling us at (734) 883-9584 to set up a confidential and free meeting.