State v. Mr. J (DMC No. 18092) – Felony Child Sex Trafficking, and Felony Luring a Minor for Sexual Exploitation – Reduced to Attempted Child Abuse and Probation (with Zero Days Additional in Jail) – Maricopa County Superior Court (Case No. CR2022-131984)
Mr. J was on the website MegaPersonal.com, which at that time required people to be 18 years or older on their site. Due to all of the commercial sex problems on the website, they have now raised that age to requiring people to be over 21 in order to use their site. Mr. J came across an ad that was titled “Your girls home alone … who wants to play.” Unbeknownst to Mr. J, this was an Undercover Surprise Police Detective conducting a Sting Operation and posing as a 15-year-old girl.
While he was talking to what he presumed to be a prostitute, he was texted the message “I can’t have trouble, either, being 15.” He then asked her how old she was and she said “I just told you, 15, LOL.” Mr. J agreed to engage in sex acts for $100, and when he arrived at the location he was immediately Arrested by the Detectives. At that time, it was discovered he had no money on him. He was then Charged with Felony Child Sex Trafficking and Felony Luring a Minor for Sexual Exploitation. It was at this time he contacted DM Cantor to Represent him.
Because these two charges combined carry a Maximum of 36 years in Prison, it was important that we prove that Mr. J had no intent of following through with any prostitution activities. When we met with the Prosecutor, we were able to show them that upon hearing that the prostitute was 15, he specifically asked to meet at a bar to have a drink. This indicated that he did not believe that the person he was texting with was actually under 21 years of age. In addition, he arrived with no money in his pocket, which is indicative that he did not intend on paying for sex. Although he did have credit cards (which would pay for drinks at a bar), he would never use a payment method which would leave a paper trail involving Prostitution. Ultimately, the Prosecutor agreed that they would have a difficult time at Jury Trial, and they offered a Plea Agreement to Attempted Child Abuse and Probation, with Zero Days in Jail.