Is it a defense if a person who is charged with online solicitation of a minor, but the person with whom he was chatting wasn’t underage, and/or the meeting never occurred?


No. It does not matter if the person to whom the actor is chatting is underage. 33.021 (1) states:

(1) “Minor” means:
(A) an individual who represents himself or herself to be younger than 17 years of age; or
(B) an individual whom the actor believes to be younger than 17 years of age.

Texas Penal Code Sec. 33.021:

(d) It is not a defense to prosecution under [TPC 33.021] Subsection (c) that:

(1) the meeting did not occur;
(2) the actor did not intend for the meeting to occur; or
(3) the actor was engaged in a fantasy at the time of commission of the offense.

(e) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that at the time conduct described by Subsection (b) or (c) was committed:

(1) the actor was married to the minor; or
(2) the actor was not more than three years older than the minor and the minor consented to the conduct.


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