PHOENIX — Someone who tries to lure a minor into a sexual act can be convicted and required to serve a longer sentence, even if there was no minor to begin with.
In a ruling Friday, the Arizona Supreme Court rejected arguments by Hanees Haniffa that the fact the “girl” he was communicating with was an undercover officer meant he could not be found guilty of the crime he was charged with in 2024 of luring a minor for sexual exploitation. The justices agreed unanimously that state lawmakers crafted the law to specifically say it is not a defense that the “victim” was not a minor.
The court, however, split on the question of whether he could be subject to another part of the law that spells out that anyone convicted of the crime must also serve the full sentence without possibility of probation, pardon or release.
