Highlights
Charge: Pay for Sexual Conduct with a Child under 18, Enticement of a Child under 16, and Attempted Rape
Court: Lawrence District Court
Client: Male client in his mid 40s
Result: Straight probation with minimal community service, no jail sentence, and no sex offender registration requirement
Case Summary
In 2026, a client in his mid 40s was charged with Child Enticement, Attempted Rape, and Paying for Sex with a Child under 18 in the Lawrence District Court. This case was a result of a sting operation led by the Lawrence Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police High Risk Victim’s Squad. The client reached out to an online advertisement for commercial sex that was monitored by an undercover officer. That officer posed as a fifteen-year-old girl who lured the client to a hotel room, where he was arrested by Lawrence Police. The allegations presented significant concerns because the client had an minor child and a career. Additionally, without specific agreements and written findings by a judge, a conviction of these charges carries mandatory sex offender registration.
After being retained, Attorney Meredith Underwood worked closely with the client to prepare a comprehensive mitigation package for the prosecution. Through strategic advocacy and extensive preparation, she negotiated a resolution that resulted in straight probation and avoided any period of incarceration.
Attorney Underwood then pursued relief from the mandatory sex offender registration requirement. Under Massachusetts law, individuals convicted of child enticement offenses are required to register as sex offenders unless the court makes specific written findings granting relief.
To support the request, Attorney Underwood coordinated a specialized evaluation with the client and presented expert findings along with substantial mitigating evidence during a formal hearing. Despite opposition from the Commonwealth, the court granted the motion and relieved the client of any obligation to register as a sex offender.
Why This Result Matters
Avoiding sex offender registration can have a profound impact on a person's future employment opportunities, housing options, reputation, and quality of life. This result allowed the client to move forward without incarceration and without the lifelong consequences associated with sex offender registration.
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