Texas Criminal Defense | Frisco, Collin County & Dallas-Fort Worth
Charged With Online Solicitation of a Minor? Speak With a Criminal Defense Lawyer Before You Respond
Barbieri Law Firm defends people accused of online sex crimes across Collin County, Dallas-Fort Worth and Texas. We will review the messages, the timeline and the evidence, and explain your options clearly.
About Barbieri Law Firm
Frisco, Texas
Home office
Collin County
Dallas-Fort Worth and statewide
All-Women
Criminal defense firm
By Heather Barbieri · Published October 27, 2026
Online Sex Crimes Defense Lawyer
This page explains what the law covers, how these cases usually begin, and what an online solicitation of a minor charge defense lawyer reviews in Texas. It does not predict how any case will turn out.
What the Texas Online Solicitation Law Covers and Who It Affects
That belief language matters in many cases.
Under Texas Penal Code § 33.021(f), an offense under subsection (b) is a felony of the third degree, except that it is a felony of the second degree if the minor is younger than 14 years of age or is an individual whom the actor believes to be younger than 14 years of age at the time of the offense. An offense under subsection (c) is a felony of the second degree.
It affects professionals who work with or around young people, and it affects the families who support them.
How These Cases Usually Begin
Investigators don’t always need a physical encounter to begin.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has a page on online enticement.
A person may first learn of an investigation from a knock at the door, a phone call, a subpoena, or a request to come in for an interview.
The gap between first contact and a charge can be short or long. There’s no typical timeline.
Many people ask whether the other person had to be a real child. Under Texas Penal Code § 33.021(a)(1)(B), ‘minor’ includes an individual whom the actor believes to be younger than 17 years of age.
What a Defense Review Includes
A defense review looks at the full conversation, the records behind it, and how police gathered them. It starts with the complete record, not a few quoted lines.
- Complete message history. Messages before and after the ones cited in the charge, not only excerpts.
- Stated ages and profile details. Who was actually on the other end, and what the messages show about belief in age.
- Device and account records. Timestamps, account details, and how police collected the data.
- The charging papers. Whether the charge matches the messages.
The state must prove each element, including intent. A review also tests whether a defense fits the facts. Texas law provides a defense to prosecution for soliciting a minor to meet if the actor was married to the minor, or was not more than three years older than the minor and the minor consented.
Entrapment is also a defense. Under Penal Code § 8.06, it applies when a law enforcement agent induced the conduct with persuasion or other means likely to cause the offense. Giving someone an opportunity to offend is not entrapment.
Whether any defense applies depends on the facts.
Statements to Police and Early Decisions
Talk with a lawyer before you answer investigators’ questions about the messages. Early choices can shape the rest of the case.
You can speak with a lawyer before you answer questions. What you say in an interview can be used in the case, so pause before you respond. Investigators may call back, ask you to come in, or ask for your phone.
Don’t delete messages, accounts, or apps on your own. Deleted material can change how the evidence looks and can create new questions. Ask a lawyer what to keep first.
Write down every date on any paper you receive, including court and bond dates. Keep your notes for your lawyer only, not for coworkers or social media.
How Working With Barbieri Law Firm Works
The process runs in five steps, from first conversation through court settings. Each step builds on the one before.
- First consultation. You describe what happened and what paperwork you have. We offer a free first consultation — confidential, with no obligation to continue.
- Intake. We gather the charging papers, bond or arrest information, and any messages or records you have.
- Evidence review. We review the messages, device records, and the investigative file.
- Options. We explain your options and the next court settings. Under Code of Criminal Procedure art. 42A.102, a judge may grant deferred adjudication in cases not on the statute’s exclusion list. Whether a judge grants it is up to the judge.
- Representation. We keep you informed through hearings and court settings.
How long a case takes depends on the county court calendar and the complexity of the evidence. No fixed timeline applies.
Not sure what your next step is?
Talk it through with our team — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.
Why Barbieri Law Firm for Professionals Facing This Charge
Barbieri Law Firm is an all-women criminal defense firm in Frisco, Texas, that defends professionals accused of sex crimes and assaultive offenses.
Heather Jean Barbieri, Board Certified, Criminal Law — Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Our lawyers include Heather Barbieri and Carrie Thomas.
The firm serves Collin County, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Texas. Its work covers online sex crimes, sex crimes, aggravated sexual assault, child sex crimes, aggravated assault, and family violence defense.
Questions People Ask About 33.021 Charges
Most early questions turn on the messages, the ages involved, and the investigation file.
Can a chat alone lead to a charge?
Whether the state can prove each element depends on the facts.
Does the other person have to be a real minor?
No. The statute also covers someone the actor believes is younger than 17.
Is it a defense that the meeting never happened?
No. Under Texas Penal Code § 33.021, the meeting does not have to occur for an offense under subsection (c).
Should I talk to a lawyer before a detective calls back?
Yes, early review matters. An online solicitation of a minor charge defense lawyer can review the messages and the investigation file before any interview.
Next Step: Tell Us What Happened
If you’re reading this after a message, an interview request, or a charge you didn’t expect, you may be trying to understand what comes next. You don’t have to figure it out alone.
Call (972) 424-1902, send your case details through our contact page, or schedule a consultation there.
Attorney responsible for this site: Heather Jean Barbieri, Barbieri Law Firm, Frisco, Texas.
How We Approach Your Case
We Review the Full Record
We examine the messages, the accounts, the screenshots and any reports, so we understand exactly what the State has and what it must prove.
We Explain the Charge
We walk you through the elements of the offense, the possible penalties and the questions that matter in your specific situation.
We Protect Your Rights
We advise you on dealing with police, prosecutors and any digital evidence, so your next steps are informed and deliberate.
Confidential From the Start
Your first conversation with us is confidential. Share what you are comfortable sharing, and we will help you decide what comes next.
Before You Reply, Pause
Messages, deleted chats and social media posts can become evidence. Contacting the other person, the police or a prosecutor without advice can complicate your case. Consider speaking with a lawyer first.
Questions We Hear Most
Can a chat alone lead to a charge?
Whether the State can prove each element depends on the facts, including what was said, who said it and what the evidence shows. We review every detail with you.
Does the other person have to be a real minor?
Texas law can reach conduct involving someone the accused believed was a minor, so the facts of the communication matter. We explain how this applies to your case.
Does it matter that no meeting happened?
Whether a meeting occurred is one factor among many. We examine the communications and the surrounding circumstances to explain how they bear on the charge.
What happens at the first meeting?
We listen to your account, review what you have, and explain the process and options in plain language. The first consultation is free, confidential and carries no obligation to continue.
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