Attorney who defends online solicitation of a minor charges

Robert M. Helfend is a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney who defends online solicitation of a minor and other internet-based sex crime cases. He has more than forty years of experience practicing criminal defense, has handled over 4,000 criminal cases, and has represented hundreds of clients in sex crime prosecutions, including computer-based and online-enticement cases in both state and federal court.

His work in this area focuses on serious felony-level accusations that involve digital evidence, undercover operations, and potential sex-offender registration. He is known for discreet representation, careful handling of sensitive facts, and an evidence-driven approach in cases where a single allegation can permanently change a client’s life.

What “online solicitation of a minor” usually means in California

In California, cases people describe as “online solicitation of a minor” are usually charged under one or both of these statutes:

• Sending harmful or sexually explicit material to a minor with the intent to seduce or entice them into sexual contact (Penal Code 288.2)
• Arranging a meeting with a minor, or someone the accused believes is a minor, for lewd purposes (Penal Code 288.4)

These laws can apply to communication through:

• Social media and messaging apps
• Dating apps and chat platforms
• Online games and private messages
• Text messages, email, and other electronic communication

Often, the “minor” is actually an undercover officer posing as a minor in a sting operation. Police may keep extensive chat logs, screenshots, and recordings that the prosecution later presents as evidence of intent.

Depending on the facts and prior record, these offenses can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies. Consequences can include jail or prison time, substantial fines, probation, and years or even lifetime sex-offender registration.

Strategy and approach in online-solicitation cases

Online-solicitation cases live or die on the details of the communication and how the investigation was conducted. Helfend’s approach is methodical and evidence-focused:

• Early review of all communications
  He obtains and reviews the full chat logs, text threads, emails, and platform records, not just the excerpts chosen by law enforcement. Context often matters: what was said before and after a key message can change how it is interpreted.
• Challenging how the sting was run
  In undercover operations, he examines whether officers crossed the line into entrapment by pressuring, repeatedly pushing, or overstepping in ways that induced conduct that would not otherwise have occurred.
• Intent and age issues
  California’s statutes require proof that the accused intended to arrange a meeting for lewd conduct and believed the other person was under 18. He looks for evidence that the client believed they were communicating with an adult, or that there was no real plan to meet or engage in sexual conduct.
• Identity and access questions
  Modern cases often involve shared devices, shared accounts, or hacked profiles. Helfend addresses whether investigators can reliably show who was actually using the device or account at the time of the messages.
• Narrowing charges and registration exposure
  When a negotiated resolution is in the client’s best interest, he focuses on reducing charges, limiting sex-offender registration obligations, and containing custody time and probation terms as much as the facts allow.

Common defenses in online solicitation of a minor cases

Depending on the evidence, potential defenses may include:

• Entrapment by law enforcement in a sting operation
• Lack of intent to engage in sexual conduct or to meet in person
• Good-faith belief that the other person was an adult
• Misidentification or someone else using the device/account
• Chats that were inappropriate but never crossed the legal line into solicitation under California law

Not all of these will apply in every case, but part of Helfend’s role is to identify which are realistic and how they can be supported with evidence or expert testimony.

Why clients turn to Robert M. Helfend for online-solicitation cases

People facing online-solicitation-of-a-minor charges choose Helfend because:

• He has more than 40 years of criminal defense experience in Los Angeles and throughout California.
• He has defended hundreds of sex crime cases, including computer-based and internet-enticement matters.
• His practice focuses on serious felonies and sex crimes where the stakes include prison, registration, and long-term reputational harm.
• He is known for handling sensitive facts discreetly while aggressively contesting weak or overreaching prosecutions.
• He personally manages each serious case rather than delegating it to junior lawyers.

For clients whose careers, families, and reputations are at risk, that combination of experience and discretion is critical.

Immediate steps if you’re accused of online solicitation of a minor

If you have been contacted by police, arrested, or learned you are under investigation for online solicitation of a minor:

• Do not try to “explain” the situation to officers or investigators without a lawyer present.
• Do not delete chats, wipe devices, or change accounts; this can destroy evidence that may help you and may create separate problems.
• Save any paperwork you have received, including search warrants, property receipts for seized devices, and charging documents.
• Make note of the platforms involved (apps, websites, games), the agencies involved, and any statements you may already have made.

Then contact the Helfend Law Group at (800) 834-6434 or (310) 456-3317.