State v. Panebianco
The State appealed a trial court order dismissing child-solicitation and traveling-to-meet-a-minor charges where the trial court found insufficient evidence of solicitation/enticement and found Panebianco subjectively and objectively entrapped as a matter of law. The Second DCA reversed, holding that the sexually explicit online communications were sufficient to establish a prima facie case of seducing/enticing a minor, and that the predisposition question in the subjective entrapment defense should have gone to a jury rather than being decided as a matter of law.
Key facts
- Panebianco engaged in sexually explicit online communications with an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old named 'Sophia' in a law enforcement sting operation.
- The trial court dismissed child-solicitation and traveling-to-meet-a-minor charges, finding insufficient evidence of solicitation/enticement and determining Panebianco was entrapped as a matter of law.
- +2 more key facts with a free trial
Why it matters
This decision continues the Second District's developing line of cases (DeMare, Lopez-Garcia, and now Panebianco) addressing when online predator sting-operation entrapment defenses may be decided as a matter of law… — full analysis with a trial
🔒 Read the full opinion, holding & search the library
The full opinion PDF, the rules the court applied, our significance analysis, the background facts, and full-text search across every tracked Florida decision are available to members. Start a free 30-day trial — no credit card.
Not ready to sign up? Get the free Friday digest — the week's key Florida decisions by email, no login required.
Florida Court Tracker provides summaries of publicly available court opinions for informational and research purposes only. This is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship. Always verify holdings against the official opinion.