December 3, 2020 - client facing prison time for traveling to meet a minor enters plea to withhold of adjudication and probation

Ryan McFarland successfully negotiated an incredible disposition of a felony child sex case for our client L.W. L.W. had been arrested and charged under Florida law in Volusia County, Florida with travel to meet a minor for sexual activity. This is a very serious felony offense which if convicted results in lifetime registration as a sex offender and ordinarily even under a plea agreement results in a prison sentence of several years. The equivalent federal charge carries a ten year minimum mandatory sentence. The Florida sentencing guidelines are about three years in prison. Mr. McFarland successfully negotiated a plea to a non-sex offense, felony child neglect, which will not result in L.W. being designated a sex offender or require any sex offender registration, and also negotiated a withhold of adjudication (which means under Florida law L.W. will not be considered a convicted felon for most purposes), and three years probation - not sex offender probation, just standard probation, with the agreement that the court will consider early termination of probation upon completion of the standard conditions of probation.