JEFFERSON CITY — The state Supreme Court heard arguments today from a St. Louis County man convicted of enticement of a child, who said his conviction was unconstitutional

The law in question imposes a mandatory five-year sentence, without parole, for those over 21 who solicits sex from a minor, including via the Internet.

The lawyer for Jacob R. Pribble argued to the court that this law is unconstitutional because it doesn’t allow for freedom of speech.

“This statute is in no way tailored to avoid the suppression of free speech,” said Daniel Juengel. He said talking online about sex with a minor is different than soliciting sex from a minor, but the law doesn’t differentiate.

Juengel also suggested that the court require the Legislature to give a reason for adopting an emergency clause, which means the law takes effect immediately after the governor signs it, rather than in August.

The state’s attorney, Jim Farnsworth, said the precedent is that the Legislature should be given wide freedom to create emergency clauses.

The Supreme Court doesn’t have a schedule for when they release opinions.