Conway Sexual Solicitation Defense Attorney

Charged with sexual solicitation in Conway, AR? Our seasoned sexual solicitation defense lawyers in Conway will defend you.

Few allegations carry the immediate social and professional consequences of a sexual solicitation charge.

In Conway and across Faulkner County, these cases often begin with an online sting operation, a misread text message, or a misunderstanding that spirals long before any facts are tested in court.

Neighbors talk, employers ask questions, and family members hear things secondhand and do not know what to believe, all while investigators build a file and prosecutors decide how aggressively to pursue it.

Lemley DWI & Criminal Defense Lawyers defends Arkansans throughout Conway and Faulkner County against sexual solicitation allegations, including cases built on digital evidence, sting operations, and cross-jurisdictional exposure.

Our team includes former prosecutors and a former law enforcement detective, giving us a clear picture of how the state builds these cases and where they tend to fall apart.

In some situations, our Conway sexual solicitation defense attorneys can contact investigators on your behalf before charges are ever filed, and reaching us early is one of the most important steps you can take.

Contact us today for a free, 24/7 case evaluation.

What Is Sexual Solicitation in Arkansas?

Sexual solicitation is the use of any communication, in person, by phone, or online, to offer something of value for sexual contact, or to attempt to arrange sexual conduct with a minor.

The specific charge you face depends on who was allegedly targeted, what was communicated, and how law enforcement became involved.

What Charges Fall Under Sexual Solicitation?

Sexual solicitation is not a single offense. Arkansas law covers several distinct charges under this category, and the one you face shapes both the penalties and the defense we build.

We defend clients charged with:

• Internet stalking of a child, often described as sexual solicitation of a child (Ark. Code Ann. § 5-27-306)
• Computer exploitation of a child (Ark. Code Ann. § 5-27-605)
• Sexual solicitation of an adult, commonly called patronizing a prostitute (Ark. Code Ann. § 5-70-103)
• Charges arising from police sting operations
• Related sexual assault charges filed alongside solicitation counts

Each offense requires the prosecution to prove specific legal elements beyond a reasonable doubt. The job of our Conway sexual solicitation defense lawyers is to find exactly where their proof falls short.

What Are the Penalties for Sexual Solicitation in Arkansas?

Penalties range from misdemeanor jail time to decades in prison, depending on the specific charge.

Beyond prison, a conviction for any child-related solicitation offense typically triggers mandatory registration under Arkansas’s Sex and Child Offender Registration Act, codified at Ark. Code Ann. § 12-12-901 et seq. Registration can follow you for life and restricts where you can live, work, and travel. A dismissal, an acquittal, or a negotiated resolution to a charge that does not carry a registration requirement are the only ways out.

How much of that sentence you would actually serve also depends on when the offense occurred. Under the Protect Arkansas Act (Act 659 of 2023), a conviction for internet stalking of a child (Ark. Code Ann. § 5-27-306) or computer exploitation of a child (Ark. Code Ann. § 5-27-605) committed on or after January 1, 2025 carries no parole eligibility at all, meaning the full sentence must be served with no earned-release credit.

Offenses committed before that date are evaluated under the parole rules that were in place at the time. Because this can change what a sentence actually means in practice, it is one of the first things we determine when we take on a case.

Can Federal Charges Apply to My Case?

When an alleged communication crosses state lines or uses interstate technology, federal prosecutors can pursue the case under 18 U.S.C. §§ 2422 or 2423. Federal solicitation charges can carry severe penalties, including lengthy prison terms and, in some cases, limited or no parole.

What to Do in the First 72 Hours

The first three days after an accusation or arrest are the most critical. The choices you make, and the ones you avoid, can change what the state is able to prove by the time your case reaches a courtroom.

Stay Silent

You are not required to answer investigators’ questions. Every statement you make, even something that seems harmless, becomes material the prosecution can shape and use against you. Exercise your right to remain silent and call us before doing anything else.

Call Our Conway Defense Team

Early involvement gives our Conway criminal defense lawyers the most options. In some cases, we can contact investigators on your behalf before an arrest is ever made, and that contact alone can prevent charges from being filed.

Do Not Touch Your Devices or Accounts

Do not delete messages, emails, browsing history, or social media activity. Tampering with potential evidence is a separate criminal charge, and it signals consciousness of guilt even when that is not your intent.

Prepare for Your Bond Hearing

At your first court appearance, a judge sets the conditions of your release. We argue for your freedom and push back against unnecessary restrictions like GPS monitoring, internet bans, or overly broad stay-away orders.

How We Defend Sexual Solicitation Charges

Every defense starts with one question: where does the prosecution’s case break down? Our team includes former prosecutors and a former law enforcement detective, giving us a clear picture of how the state builds solicitation cases, and where they tend to cut corners.

We work backward from the evidence, not forward from the accusation:

• Suppressing unlawful evidence: If police searched your phone, computer, or home without a valid warrant, we move to exclude that evidence from trial entirely.

• Challenging digital attribution: IP addresses, metadata, and device logs are regularly misread. A shared network or borrowed device can point investigators at the wrong person. We bring in independent forensic experts to counter the state’s conclusions.

• Attacking criminal intent: Solicitation requires specific intent that ambiguous messages and out-of-context conversations often do not satisfy. We make sure the court understands that distinction.

• Building alibi: Employment records, cell tower data, and surveillance footage can directly contradict the prosecution’s timeline.

Does Entrapment Apply in Online Sting Cases?

Entrapment is a viable defense when law enforcement crosses the line from giving someone an opportunity to pressuring them into committing a crime. That difference often lives in the sting’s own chat transcript.

If an undercover officer introduced explicit topics first, escalated a conversation you were backing away from, or repeatedly reached out after you disengaged, that conduct may support an entrapment argument. We review every message in the record looking for exactly that pattern.

One pattern we consistently see in Faulkner County online sting cases is a chat log where it is the undercover account, not our client, that introduces explicit language first or repeatedly restarts a conversation after our client went quiet for hours or days.

Pulling the complete, unedited transcript from the Conway Police Department, not just the excerpts quoted in the probable cause affidavit, is usually what surfaces that pattern.

What Evidence Can Make or Break Your Case?

Devices, IP Data, and Chat Logs

The state’s digital evidence is not always as reliable as it appears. Metadata can be corrupted, IP addresses misattributed, and shared household devices create genuine ambiguity about who sent a particular message. Our independent forensic experts identify those weaknesses before trial.

Undercover Operations and No Actual Minor

In most online sting cases, the “minor” is a police officer. Arkansas law still permits charges in that scenario, but the absence of a real child victim directly affects both the entrapment analysis and how a jury evaluates the conduct at issue.

Surveillance, Cell Records, and Alibi Proof

Cell tower data, timestamped receipts, and security camera footage can place you somewhere other than where the state claims you were. We subpoena and preserve this material early, before it disappears.

What our Conway sexual solicitation defense attorneys see across the solicitation cases we defend involving devices seized by the Conway Police Department is that investigators often extract data from a phone or computer used by multiple people in the same household without ever establishing who was actually typing at the time in question.

That gap between who owned a device and who sent a specific message is frequently where a case starts to fall apart.

What to Expect in Faulkner County Courts

Your case moves through the Faulkner County Circuit Court in the 20th Judicial District, and each stage carries real consequences.

• Bond hearing: We argue for your release and fight against conditions that would unnecessarily disrupt your life.

• Discovery and pretrial motions: The state must disclose every piece of evidence it plans to use. We analyze everything and file motions to suppress anything obtained unlawfully.

• Plea negotiations: When a negotiated resolution serves your interests, we pursue the most favorable terms available. You make the final decision, and we will not push a deal that is not right for your situation.

• Trial: We cross-examine every witness, challenge every piece of evidence, and hold the state to its full burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

With an office in Conway, we know this court system and the prosecutors running it.

One pattern we consistently see in Faulkner County Circuit Court is a client booked into the Faulkner County Detention Center on a solicitation charge losing valuable preparation time before a family even locates an attorney, while the 20th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is already building its file.

Having someone in the courtroom for that first bond hearing, and reviewing discovery the moment it becomes available, is usually what keeps a case from getting away from a client early.

Will Courts Restrict Contact with My Children?

Yes. Once charges are filed, judges routinely issue no-contact orders that can prevent you from seeing your own minor children. The Arkansas Department of Human Services, known as DHS, may also impose a “safety plan,” an informal but enforceable arrangement that controls where you live and who can be in your home.

We petition to modify these restrictions when the facts support it and coordinate with your family attorney when a custody matter is running alongside your criminal case.

How Much Does Sexual Solicitation Defense Cost?

We work on a flat-fee basis, so you know the full cost from your first conversation, no hourly billing, no surprise invoices. Payment plans are available and discussed openly at your initial consultation. A charge this serious deserves real representation, and your finances should never be the barrier.

Why Choose Lemley DWI & Criminal Defense Lawyers?

When your freedom, your record, and your family are all at risk at the same time, preparation and experience are everything. Here is what our team brings to your case:

• 21+ years of criminal defense experience led by Attorney Kevin Lemley, a member of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and the National College for DUI Defense

• Former prosecutors and a former detective on our team, giving us an inside view of how the state builds these cases from the beginning

• A Conway office and regular presence in Faulkner County courts, so we know the system and the people running it

• 24/7 availability and a record of dismissals on serious felony charges, from drug trafficking to felony assault

• Flat-fee pricing with flexible payment plans, so financial concerns never stand between you and a strong defense

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Arkansas Charge Me with Solicitation if the “Minor” Was an Undercover Officer?

Yes. Arkansas law permits the charge even when no real child was involved, but the absence of an actual minor is a key factor in challenging the case, particularly when entrapment is also in play.

What Happens to My Phone and Computer after Police Seize Them?

Your devices remain in law enforcement custody while the case is active. We file the appropriate legal motions to protect your rights and push for their return as soon as the law allows.

Can a Solicitation Arrest Affect My Custody Rights?

Yes, an arrest can trigger emergency custody proceedings, especially when a no-contact order restricts access to your children. We work alongside your family attorney to address criminal and family court consequences at the same time.

Will a Solicitation Arrest Appear on a Background Check?

An arrest can appear on a background check even without a conviction. A dismissal or, where available, an expungement is the most effective way to limit that damage to your record and reputation.

How Do I Know if I Am Already under Investigation before an Arrest?

Common warning signs include a detective reaching out by phone or in person, people close to you being questioned, or learning that your devices have been flagged. If any of that is happening, call us immediately, pre-arrest intervention is often our most powerful tool.