A student at Southeastern Louisiana University has been charged with a sexual felony for sharing explicit photos of himself to a person who posed as a 16-year-old girl. The student’s arrest was the result of an undercover sting, and an undercover cop was posing as the 16-year-old girl.
Officials allege that the student attempted sexual solicitation from an undercover officer posing as a minor girl. He purportedly sent explicit images of himself through the internet and text, requesting similar photos in return. The student, a history and political science major, was employed as an assistant high school basketball coach at the time of the computer-based crime.
Felony charges can carry serious penalties. Most state criminal systems divide crimes into several categories according to the seriousness of the offense. A misdemeanor generally includes crimes that are punishable by up to one year in jail. A felony, on the other hand, can lead to a possible prison sentence of more than one year.
Due to the severity of felonies, court room procedures must be observed to the strictest degree in order to protect defendants. A defendant, such as the student in this case, may contest the allegations by showing he or she did not actually commit the act or that, even if the act was committed, the required criminal intent was not present.
It is important for people charged with these types of crimes to build a solid defense. Individuals in similar situations to the student in this instance may have their whole lives ahead of them, and being convicted of a sexual crime can have a lasting impact on one’s future.
Source: The Lion’s Roar, “Student arrested for sexual felony in sting,” June 17, 2014