My Husband is currently incarcerated. His sentence was 6 months (his early release date is mid-January) he was just taken in a week ago... He was charged with Solicitation of a Minor (a law enforcement officer posing as a minor). He had gone on cragislist and responded to a personal ad. After talking for a few days they revealed they were underage, which he apparently didn't believe. After a few months of going back and forth with convos (and several weeks of not talking here and there, where THEY would initiate conversations) they convinced him to meet up. He drove up there, but decided not to stop, so he passed the location, turned around and headed home.. They officers were canvasing the area and pulled my husband over several blocks from the meeting location heading away from said location.
This was back in May. They also tacked on "Attempted rape" and " Attempted sex offense" to further convince him to take a plea... He did take a plea, the state wanted 5 years suspend all but 18 months, 5 years probation and tier 2 registry. He was ultimately sentenced to 5 years suspend all but 6 months, 5 years probation and tier 2 registry... A year shorter than the state wanted, which I'm relieved of.
Though my husband does not have to register yet, I am terrified of what happens when he does. We do not have children yet and he has always wanted them more than me. I'm also still coping with him being taken away so I'm in a rough place emotionally right now.
Thankfully, we live in a very rural area and I know our sheriff well, and he is aware of what has happened and he is very kind, helpful and forgiving.
The next 25+ years are going to be very difficult for us, our future children will have to deal with a father on the registry, and so will the rest of our families. I'm not 100% prepared, and I dont think I ever will be. But we have an amazing group of friends and family that support us.
I can only pray that a few years down the road they make some sort of ruling on how sting operations are done and we can somehow get this overturned. I know thats probably never going to happen but I will always be wishing for it.

Malicious accusation made by a 17-year-old girl after being told that family plans superseded personal plans; conviction based on testimony only, no evidence presented.

My husband was convicted of molesting our teenage daughter a couple of years ago, and is serving a 30 yr sentense. We are appealing, in hopes of getting a sentense reduction. Since his arrest, I've seen changes in him, and see how remorseful he was in what he did. He said he wanted to stop, but wasn't able to. I know that if he had been able to seek help, without fear of incarceration, the abuse would have stopped, or never even started.
I now am fighting to change the laws, and push for legislators to push education and prevention services to stop the abuse, instead of waiting to give offensers treatment AFTER the abuse has occurred. I remind them that the registry and residency restrictions didn't prevent our daughters abuse and cite the statics - proving my point even more.

My husband was a business owner who hired a young woman to work for him. She was new to their small town. She put on her application that she was 19 years old. She drove herself to work and was dating a local fireman in the area - openly. My husband was married for 24 years and a few months after this girl started working for him, he found his wife in an affair with one of their friends. He was devastated and went back to his office to cry. This girl offered to console him. He accepted. She was very willing and very experienced. He said she taught him a few things in the bedroom. They saw each other for a few months and he never suspected that she was underage. Then, on her 16th birthday, a friend mentioned her age and he was sick. He told her to stay away from him, to stop calling. She didn't. She went and told her Daddy, who pressed charges. We had been friends for 12 years and started seeing each other 2 weeks before he was charged. It was 2 years getting into court so I've been through it all with him. My husband accepted a plea of no contest to 2nd degree rape with a 10 year sentence. We had the proof of her lying about her age on the application. We had the phone records that proved that he never called her. The DA in that small hick town was a female who was the victim of child sex abuse. And she will keep at it until she finds something to put them away for. She continuously brings up new charges. So they talked him into the plea. He's been incarcerated at a minimum yard for 3 1/2 years. He discharges in March with no paper time. It's been a very long, hard road. He is a wonderful Christian man who did something really stupid. And we've both paid a very high price for it. I know it will never happen again and I love him with all of my heart. I look so forward to moving on with our life, having this all behind us...finally!

OMG! my heart so goes out to all of you!!!!

My husband went to court because of the testimony of a 14 yr old, with no other evidence, all because she didn't like the house rules, and wanted to live with an aunt and uncle, who let her "date" a 23 yr old the year before. He ended up taking a plea to a lesser charge rather than take another chance

Thank you for all of your stories. I found it helps if we hear other peoples stories. My heart goes out to you all Just maintain hope and be supportive. Its hell for everyone involved.

In college my fiance watched child pornography. He took a plea for 1 1/2 years in jail and probation. He got lifetime probation but every one says he should be able to get off after he completes group therapy. Also, when he does get off probation he only has to register for 10 more years (court says, we'll see if that's true.) His case is interstate so it makes it harder.

I was sent a video tape (remember those?!) from a guy I met online when I was 15.

He said it was him and his brother. We were 'dating' long distance. We even talked on the phone.

After I stopped talking to him I loaned the tape to a friend because it had music videos on it as well.

She returned it the summer after my freshman year of college because she found it while moving. I was 18.

That fall the cops came knocking. Did I know this guy?

Yes. I knew him.

They said he abused boys. They said he was in his 30's ( not 15).

I handed them the tape because I thought it might help them. (They had a search warrant too).

They arrested me.

Told me they could charge me with accepting the tape as a minor over state lines as a federal offense. I'd have to be in a holding pen in FL until it was worked out. Or as an adult with possession.

I chose the latter.

Hired a useless attorney who plead my counts down to one (it was only one tape but they came up with five counts somehow).

I had one year probation. No one told me I had to register until halfway through my probation.

They had me go to counseling too. There I had to write a paper on 'informed consent'. It really did teach me something.

And ya'all know the rest of the story more than half my life spent as a SO having my freedoms removed more and more each year.

Wow Ivy

My former best friend was caught in one of thos eillegal sex stings in Florida. He pleaded guilty, is in prison and won't write to me. Still praying for his release and/or exoneration.

I am sorry @PNK i hope that they will find harmony and peace in their conviction adn will be able to move on.

2 years ago I started dating my boyfriend. He had just gotten home from Afghanistan and came home to a divorce. Shortly after we started dating (we're talking maybe a week or two so it wasn't serious yet), he started talking to a 16 year old who was the foster sister of his then best friend's wife. The girl wanted to "learn about sex." So they were talking and eventually ended up hanging out and fooling around but never sleeping together.

Fast forward to last February...it all comes to light as his divorce was finalizing and he finally tells me. We broke up for a few days because I thought he'd be arrested but I realize I'm more depressed without him than anything so we get back together when he gets out of his doctors appointments that weekend.

Nothing happened at all between February of last year until March of this year when he gets arrested and charged. He took the plea deal of solicitation of a minor with 10 years on the registry and 2 years of probation. During everything, we found out the same girl was cybering with 12 other guys, none of which the DA went after. So we're appealing the number of years in a few weeks. But that's why I'm here...because talking it out with people who have been there or are there now helps me find some sense of normalcy through all this insanity.

My son plead guilty to 1 count of internet CP, got 10 years federal. Started serving his time this past May. Right now he is in Montana facing charges there.

Kitty... What was the exact count? Possession or distribution? And what is the Montana charge? Same thing except at the state level?

I had 1 count CP possession (state) and received no jail time, 5 yrs probation and/or until further order of the court.

Either I was very lucky or your son received a very harsh sentence...