The Internet has attracted many of the children most vulnerable to predators. After identifying a victim, the predator, sometimes posing on-line as a teenager, then tries to develop a relationship that can turn sexual. Some states have laws, which vary by state, governing the use of a computer to lure or entice child for sexual purposes. Such laws generally apply if the computer transmission involved originated in or was received in the state.
In general, a person is guilty of solicitation of a child by a computer if the person is an adult and the person knowingly, with the intent to commit an unlawful sex act, entices, induces, persuades, seduces, prevails, advises, coerces, or orders, by means of a computer, a minor, to meet with the defendant or any other person for the purpose of engaging in sexual intercourse, sodomy, or to engage in a sexual performance, obscene sexual performance, or sexual conduct for his or her benefit. It may also be a crime to transmit obscene material to a child by means of any computer communication system allowing the input, output, examination, or transfer of computer programs obscene material for the purpose of initiating or engaging in sexual acts with the child.
