Dallas Solicitation Lawyer: Proven Defense Against Charges

Overview:

A Dallas solicitation lawyer can help if you’re accused of online solicitation of a minor under Texas Penal Code 33.021. Many cases come from undercover sting operations and rely on chat logs, device searches, and statements after arrest. The charge level can be a third-degree felony or a second-degree felony. Defense options may include challenging identity, attacking weak proof, filing suppression motions when police broke rules, and raising entrapment when supported by the facts.

In North Texas, these cases are common enough that multi-agency internet-crimes operations have led to dozens of arrests in a single effort, including a 2024 operation announced by the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force that reported 47 arrests.

A Dallas solicitation lawyer helps you deal with the real risks: felony punishment ranges, strict bond rules, device searches, and possible sex offender registration. At The Medlin Law Firm, we help people facing Dallas online solicitation allegations protect their rights and build a defense plan based on the evidence, not assumptions.

Online solicitation cases often start with messages. They can also involve pictures, videos, or talk about meeting up. The key is this: the charge is based on what the police say you intended, not just what you typed.

Texas Penal Code § 33.021 covers certain sexual communications and conduct involving a minor. Under the law, “minor” can mean someone under 17 or someone the person believes is under 17.

The statute includes different types of allegations, such as:

• Sexually explicit communication with a minor, or sending sexually explicit material to a minor (often charged under § 33.021(b)).
• Soliciting a minor to meet (including the actor) with intent for sexual contact/acts (often charged under § 33.021(c)).

This is not the same thing as prostitution solicitation. Prostitution solicitation usually involves paying or offering to pay for sex. Online solicitation of a minor is a separate charge with different rules and much higher stakes.

A big mistake is assuming this is always the same level felony. Under § 33.021, the charge level depends on the subsection and the facts.

• An offense under § 33.021(b) is usually a third-degree felony, but it can become a second-degree felony if the minor is under 14 (or the person is believed to be under 14).
• An offense under § 33.021(c) is a second-degree felony.

Punishment ranges in Texas are set by felony level:

• Third-degree felony: 2 to 10 years in prison, and a fine up to $10,000. (Texas Penal Code Section 12.34)
• Second-degree felony: 2 to 20 years in prison, and a fine up to $10,000. (Texas Penal Code Section 12.33)

People also worry about the Texas sex offender registry. Registration can apply in many sex-related cases based on the final offense and outcome, under the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 62.

Many online solicitation cases in Dallas do not start with a real child. They start with an undercover profile, a decoy account, or a message thread that police save as evidence. The goal is usually the same: create chat logs that the state later claims show intent under Texas Penal Code § 33.021 Online Solicitation of a Minor.

Sting operations often run through child-exploitation units and task forces. Dallas Police’s Crimes Against Children Unit says it investigates internet-facilitated crimes like online solicitation of minors and child sexual exploitation. Federal and local agencies also announce periodic enforcement efforts.

Common sting features include:

• A profile that claims to be under 17 (or hints at it).
• Fast messages that push the conversation sexual.
• Requests for photos or videos as “proof.”
• Talk about meeting up and where it would happen.
• Police saving screenshots, full chat exports, and device data.

Even when it feels like just messages, police treat it as a felony investigation.

People often ask, “Is this entrapment?” Texas law does allow an entrapment defense, but it is narrow. Under Texas Penal Code § 8.06, entrapment can apply if a law enforcement agent induces the conduct using persuasion or methods likely to cause a person to commit the offense, while simply providing an opportunity is not enough.

In plain terms, an entrapment argument may focus on:

• How hard the undercover officer pushed.
• Whether the officer steered the conversation into illegal territory.
• Whether the person repeatedly tried to stop or change the topic.
• Whether key parts of the chat were left out or taken out of context.

The full chat history matters. One screenshot rarely tells the whole story.

Online solicitation arrests can move fast. Police may try to interview you right away, and they may ask for consent to search your phone or accounts.

If you are in custody and being questioned, Miranda rules can matter. The Supreme Court’s Miranda decision requires warnings about the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney during custodial interrogation before statements can be used in court.

Bond can also come with strict conditions, including no-contact rules and device restrictions. Texas law lists rules courts consider when setting bail in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 17.15.

Online solicitation cases often rise or fall on the evidence. The state may point to chat logs, screenshots, and what was found on a device. A Dallas solicitation attorney looks for weak proof, missing context, and legal mistakes the police made.

Digital evidence can be messy. People share phones, share accounts, and hand devices to friends or family. Some chats are edited, cropped, or missing key lines.

Common defense angles include:

• Identity issues: Who actually used the phone or account?
• Missing context: What happened before and after the “bad” lines?
• Reliability issues: Are the logs complete and time-stamped?
• Device access: Was the phone shared, lost, or accessed by someone else?

Computer forensics can matter here. A careful review may show who logged in, what was downloaded, and whether the evidence matches the story.

Many solicitation cases involve searches of phones, computers, or accounts. If police broke the rules, the defense may ask the judge to keep that evidence out. Texas has an exclusion rule in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 38.23. Suppression issues can include:

• A search without valid consent.
• A warrant that is too broad.
• A search that goes beyond the warrant limits.
• Statements taken after improper questioning.

If key evidence is excluded, the case can change fast.

A lot of people say, “I thought the person was an adult.” In these cases, the details matter. The court will look closely at what was actually said in the messages, what the profile showed, and what the state can prove about your belief and your intent. A defense may focus on whether age was ever discussed, whether the claimed age changed during the chat, and whether the profile was confusing, misleading, or contradicted itself.

Not every case is headed to trial. Some cases can be resolved through negotiation, especially when the evidence is weak, the facts are disputed, or the risk is high. In limited situations, negotiations may focus on reducing the charge, reaching a plea agreement with clearer terms, or finding another resolution allowed by the court’s policies and the charge level.

Early steps can protect you. They can also prevent accidental damage to your defense.

Follow this:

• Do not delete messages or accounts.
• Do not “wipe” your phone.
• Write a simple timeline while it’s fresh.
• Save bond papers and court notices.
• List who had access to your devices and accounts.

Online solicitation charges are serious, and they usually move through Dallas criminal courts. The process can feel slow one week and urgent the next. Knowing the steps helps you avoid mistakes and stay in control.

Most online solicitation cases are felonies. Felony cases are generally handled in Dallas County criminal courts, not the Dallas Municipal Court. You may deal with settings, deadlines, and bond conditions long before a trial date is even discussed.

While each case is different, the path often looks like this:

1. Investigation (sometimes weeks or months).
2. Arrest or surrender on a warrant.
3. Magistrate hearing and bond conditions.
4. Early court settings.
5. Discovery and evidence review.
6. Motions (like suppression).
7. Negotiation or trial.

Bond rules matter early. Texas law lists bail factors in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 17.15.

Some cases also involve protective orders or strict no-contact rules. Protective order rules are covered in Texas Family Code Chapter 85.

People worry about prison, and that fear is real. They also worry about what happens after the case ends. For many, the long-term consequences feel just as serious as the sentence.

Texas sex offender registration is covered in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 62. Registration depends on the final offense and the outcome. The length of registration can vary by offense and other factors. A defense plan should consider registry risk early, not after a plea is signed.

A sex-related conviction can affect:

• Jobs and professional licenses.
• Housing options and leases.
• School and college plans.
• Parenting issues and family relationships.
• Online background searches and reputation.

These problems can last for years. They can also affect the people close to you.

Many people ask about expunction or sealing. Eligibility depends heavily on how the case ends. In many felony convictions, record-clearing options are limited, so it’s important to talk through this early and plan carefully.

Online solicitation cases require fast action. They also require patience, because evidence review takes time. The right lawyer helps you handle both phases without panic.

Dallas courts have real routines and deadlines. A lawyer who works in Dallas criminal courts understands how settings, bond conditions, and evidence timelines usually work. That local knowledge helps you make smarter choices, sooner.

Many cases begin before arrest. Police may ask for an interview or try to get consent to search a device. A lawyer can help you protect your rights early and avoid statements that become the center of the case later.

A strong defense is not one motion or one court date. It is a step-by-step plan: protect rights, preserve evidence, challenge weak proof, and choose the safest path based on the facts. That is the kind of work The Medlin Law Firm focuses on.