Flirting is often considered to be harmless. After all, it’s just words, right? And yet, under the law in Michigan (just like in many other states in the U.S.) it doesn’t take more than words to get someone into trouble. When you think about it, there are a lot of crimes that don’t involve anything more than saying something to someone else, yet they’re still illegal.
For example, threatening to assault a person can be illegal, as can calling the cops and telling them you placed a bomb in a public place. Both instances don’t involve more than words, and yet in both cases you can get into a lot of trouble!
There doesn’t have to be any sex for it to be a ‘sex crime’
If you’re idea of flirting is to tell someone they look nice today, or they have a pretty face, then chances are you’re probably fine. If your idea of flirting involves offering to show someone pictures of your privates, or asking to touch them in intimate ways, you should know that what you’re doing isn’t considered flirting. It borders on harassment, and in many cases, can even be considered illegal.
When the subject of your attentions is a teen however, everything changes. Sending naked pictures of yourself, or asking for naked pictures of your underage online “friend” is against the law. Propositioning them, suggesting that they meet you for sex, asking them to perform sexual acts in front of a webcam, or asking them to record themselves doing sexual things and then share the video, are all illegal. And they would all count as sex crimes in Michigan.
Accosting a minor is a felony in Michigan!
When you think of ‘accosting’ someone, you tend to think of forcing someone to do something against their will. And while forcing an underage minor to “commit an immoral act, to submit to an act of sexual intercourse or gross indecency, or to submit to any act of depravity or delinquency” certainly counts as accosting a minor, so does verbally encouraging a minor to participate in any of those acts.
So, even if you never meet the minor, even if you never see them let alone get them do anything illegal, the simple act of suggesting that they should is against the law. In Michigan, Accosting a Minor is a four year felony, and that’s for first time offenders. Second and subsequent offenders are looking at a decade behind bars and up to $10,000 in fines.
Always be careful when talking to people online.
The age of consent in Michigan is 16. Certain factors can increase that age of consent. However, when you’re flirting online, you have no way of knowing if the person you’re talking to is actually the hot 17-year-old babe they claim to be, or a 12-year-old. Always remember – online chat offers complete anonymity, which means you’ll never know who you’re really talking to. It could be a cop pretending to be a kid, a kid pretending to be an adult, or a vigilante pretending to be your friend. You never know. So be smart and stay safe.
If however, you’ve already made a mistake – said something inappropriate to someone, send a picture of your junk or propositioned someone you thought was much older, you’re going to need help from a highly skilled sex crime defense attorney. Which means you’re going to need someone from The Kronzek Firm PLC. We’ve spent decades helping people all over the lower peninsula of Michigan to defend their rights and protect their futures. We can help you too. Call 866 766 5245 (866 7No Jail) to get the help you need!