Florida criminal charge
Computer pornography; prohibited computer usage; traveling to meet minor; penalties in Florida
Computer pornography; prohibited computer usage; traveling to meet minor; penalties is a criminal offense under Florida law, defined by Fla. Stat. § 847.0135. Its classification is not fixed: Florida assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Fla. Stat. § 847.0135.
What is the penalty for computer pornography; prohibited computer usage; traveling to meet minor; penalties in Florida?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Computer pornography — Compiling, transmitting, publishing, causing transmission of, or buying/selling/exchanging a minor's identifying information for purposes of facilitating or soliciting sexual conduct with a minor.) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Computer pornography — Compiling, transmitting, publishing, causing transmission of, or buying/selling/exchanging a minor's identifying information for purposes of facilitating or soliciting sexual conduct with a minor.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Prohibited computer usage — soliciting a child or believed child — Knowingly using a computer/online service to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice a child or believed child, or a child's guardian, to engage in unlawful sexual conduct.) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Prohibited computer usage — soliciting a child or believed child — Knowingly using a computer/online service to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice a child or believed child, or a child's guardian, to engage in unlawful sexual conduct.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Jail / prison | up to 15 years (Prohibited computer usage — misrepresentation of age — Committing the offense under subsection (3) while misrepresenting the offender's own age.) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Prohibited computer usage — misrepresentation of age — Committing the offense under subsection (3) while misrepresenting the offender's own age.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Jail / prison | up to 15 years (Traveling to meet a minor — Traveling, attempting to travel, or causing another to travel to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with a child or believed child after using a computer to solicit that child or the child's guardian.) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Traveling to meet a minor — Traveling, attempting to travel, or causing another to travel to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with a child or believed child after using a computer to solicit that child or the child's guardian.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Jail / prison | up to 15 years (Lewd or lascivious exhibition using a computer — adult offender — An offender 18 years of age or older commits a live lewd or lascivious exhibition transmitted over a computer service to a victim believed to be under 16.) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Lewd or lascivious exhibition using a computer — adult offender — An offender 18 years of age or older commits a live lewd or lascivious exhibition transmitted over a computer service to a victim believed to be under 16.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Lewd or lascivious exhibition using a computer — juvenile offender — An offender less than 18 years of age commits a live lewd or lascivious exhibition transmitted over a computer service to a victim believed to be under 16.) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Lewd or lascivious exhibition using a computer — juvenile offender — An offender less than 18 years of age commits a live lewd or lascivious exhibition transmitted over a computer service to a victim believed to be under 16.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Jail / prison | up to 1 year (Owner or operator permitting violation — An owner or operator of a computer online, Internet, or bulletin board service knowingly permits a subscriber to use the service to commit a violation of this section.; county jail, not state prison (s. 775.08(2))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Owner or operator permitting violation — An owner or operator of a computer online, Internet, or bulletin board service knowingly permits a subscriber to use the service to commit a violation of this section.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
Applies to current (2025 Florida Statutes).
How is computer pornography; prohibited computer usage; traveling to meet minor; penalties classified in Florida?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer pornography | Felony of the Third Degree | Compiling, transmitting, publishing, causing transmission of, or buying/selling/exchanging a minor's identifying information for purposes of facilitating or soliciting sexual conduct with a minor. | Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(2) |
| Prohibited computer usage — soliciting a child or believed child | Felony of the Third Degree | Knowingly using a computer/online service to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice a child or believed child, or a child's guardian, to engage in unlawful sexual conduct. | Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(3) |
| Prohibited computer usage — misrepresentation of age | Felony of the Second Degree | Committing the offense under subsection (3) while misrepresenting the offender's own age. | Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(3) |
| Traveling to meet a minor | Felony of the Second Degree | Traveling, attempting to travel, or causing another to travel to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with a child or believed child after using a computer to solicit that child or the child's guardian. | Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(4) |
| Lewd or lascivious exhibition using a computer — adult offender | Felony of the Second Degree | An offender 18 years of age or older commits a live lewd or lascivious exhibition transmitted over a computer service to a victim believed to be under 16. | Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(5)(b) |
| Lewd or lascivious exhibition using a computer — juvenile offender | Felony of the Third Degree | An offender less than 18 years of age commits a live lewd or lascivious exhibition transmitted over a computer service to a victim believed to be under 16. | Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(5)(c) |
| Owner or operator permitting violation | Misdemeanor of the First Degree | An owner or operator of a computer online, Internet, or bulletin board service knowingly permits a subscriber to use the service to commit a violation of this section. | Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(6) |
Common questions about computer pornography; prohibited computer usage; traveling to meet minor; penalties in Florida
Is computer pornography; prohibited computer usage; traveling to meet minor; penalties a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?
It depends on the circumstances: computer pornography; prohibited computer usage; traveling to meet minor; penalties ranges from a Misdemeanor of the First Degree to a Felony of the Second Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 847.0135.
Computer pornography: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(2)) · Prohibited computer usage — soliciting a child or believed child: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(3)) · Prohibited computer usage — misrepresentation of age: Felony of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(3)) · Traveling to meet a minor: Felony of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(4)) · Lewd or lascivious exhibition using a computer — adult offender: Felony of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(5)(b)) · Lewd or lascivious exhibition using a computer — juvenile offender: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(5)(c)) · Owner or operator permitting violation: Misdemeanor of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(6))
What are the penalties for computer pornography; prohibited computer usage; traveling to meet minor; penalties in Florida?
Penalties for computer pornography; prohibited computer usage; traveling to meet minor; penalties in Florida depend on how it is classified — from a Misdemeanor of the First Degree up to a Felony of the Second Degree — with the ranges set by Fla. Stat. § 775.082; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Florida statute covers computer pornography; prohibited computer usage; traveling to meet minor; penalties?
Computer pornography; prohibited computer usage; traveling to meet minor; penalties is governed by Fla. Stat. § 847.0135 (Computer pornography; prohibited computer usage; traveling to meet minor; penalties).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.