Travelling to Meet a Minor Attorney in Tampa | Brancato Law Firm

Travelling to Meet a Minor Attorney in Tampa: What You Need to Know

If law enforcement arrested you or you believe you’re under investigation for travelling to meet a minor in Tampa, you need to take action immediately. These cases often begin with undercover sting operations. Even before the State Attorney files charges, the damage to your future may already be underway. At The Brancato Law Firm, P.A., we act quickly to protect your rights and your freedom.

What Is “Travelling to Meet a Minor” in Florida?

Under Florida Statute § 847.0135(4), it’s a second-degree felony to use a computer or other electronic device to arrange a meeting with a minor for sexual purposes. The law also applies if you believed you were speaking to a minor but were actually messaging an undercover officer. You don’t need to complete the meeting—taking steps to plan or show up is enough.

Penalties for Travelling to Meet a Minor in Tampa

If convicted, you face:

• Up to 15 years in prison

• Mandatory sex offender registration

• A permanent felony conviction

• Job loss and professional license revocation

• Irreparable personal and reputational harm

Florida prosecutors treat these cases with zero tolerance. You need an experienced criminal defense lawyer who can expose the weaknesses in their evidence.

Why You Need a Travelling to Meet a Minor Attorney in Tampa

Law enforcement often controls the chats, records the meetings, and carefully chooses what they present to the State. You need someone who knows how to challenge their methods.

At The Brancato Law Firm, P.A., we focus on:

• Chat logs: We analyze transcripts for misleading language, missing context, or contradictions.

• Entrapment: If police encouraged you to commit a crime you wouldn’t have committed otherwise, we fight to have the charges dropped.

• Digital forensics: We work with experts to trace device use, examine file integrity, and verify access.

• Mental health and background factors: When appropriate, we bring in psychological experts to explain behavior and reduce exposure.

We don’t treat clients like files—we get to the bottom of what happened and build the strongest defense possible.

Early Intervention Matters

If you haven’t been arrested yet, there’s still time. We can contact law enforcement or the State Attorney’s Office directly. In some cases, we’ve stopped charges from ever being filed. The sooner you reach out, the more control you have.

Why Clients Trust The Brancato Law Firm, P.A.

Attorney Rocky Brancato has more than 25 years of courtroom experience and was a leader in one of the state’s top sex crimes units. He now uses that expertise to defend individuals charged with online solicitation and related offenses in Tampa and the surrounding counties.

He personally handles every sex crimes case, and never outsources his courtroom strategy.

Contact a Tampa Attorney for Travelling to Meet a Minor Allegations

Don’t wait to get help. If you’re facing accusations or believe a sting operation targeted you, call The Brancato Law Firm, P.A. right away. We serve clients in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties and offer confidential consultations.

Call (813) 727-7159 today or visit our Sex Crimes Defense page to take the first step toward your defense.