Prostitution is widely practiced, and it can be hard to tell whether a person is a prostitute or not. Unfortunately, those caught with prostitutes are treated like villains and face criminal charges. If you were arrested for solicitation, you might be facing legal repercussions and a risk to your reputation.
The prostitution solicitation defense lawyers in Los Angeles at Simmrin Law Group have the experience and determination to fight your solicitation charges, and we are ready to provide a free consultation to review your case. Let our criminal defense team take on your case and fight to protect your future.
What Counts As Soliciting a Prostitute in California?
California Penal Code 647b makes it illegal to offer, take, or agree to trade goods or services (including money) for sexual favors. The law applies to both prostitutes and the alleged clients of prostitutes.
You can face solicitation of a prostitute charges if you offer or agree to pay money for a sex act, including touching an intimate body part, watching the person masturbate, or engaging in any form of sexual intercourse. You can also be guilty if you offer other types of services or goods in exchange for sexual favors, such as jewelry, alcohol, drugs, or a shopping trip.
However, to convict you, the prosecutor must prove that you intended to engage in the act of prostitution. In other words, if you did not realize that the person was a prostitute or wanted to only give a gift rather than trade something for sex, you cannot be convicted.
For a free legal consultation with a Criminal Defense lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (310) 928-9347
Understand Your Charges: Solicitation vs. Prostitution
It’s essential to understand the specific types of charges you are facing. Solicitation of a prostitute is a separate crime from prostitution. Therefore, it leads to different penalties and requires a different defensive strategy to reduce the charges.
Prostitution is performing sexual favors in exchange for money, but solicitation is everything that happens before the sexual acts. Therefore, you can face criminal charges for simply arranging, hiring, or accepting an offer to trade sex for money. While the punishments for prostitution and solicitation are similar, prostitution charges lead to more severe penalties.
When fighting solicitation accusations, consult with a knowledgeable solicitation of a prostitute defense attorney in Los Angeles. At our law firm, we take all the details of your case into account to determine an effective defensive strategy.
We have years of experience protecting those facing solicitation and prostitution charges, and we have helped countless clients reduce and dismiss their charges.
Los Angeles Solicitation of a Prostitute Defense Lawyer Near Me (310) 928-9347
What if I Was Caught in a Prostitute Solicitation Sting?
Sting operations for prostitution solicitation are legal, but they may also constitute entrapment if not implemented correctly. And if police officers are guilty of entrapment, your solicitation charges may get dismissed.
When performing a sting, it is legal for police officers to lie, deny their identities, and be the ones to initiate the prostitution arrangement. However, officers cross a line if they manufacture a situation to lure you into the crime. If law enforcement encourages a person who would not have been looking to hire a prostitute on their own to solicit prostitution, it can be entrapment.
Essentially, the officers are creating a crime that would not have otherwise happened. If you are facing solicitation charges due to a sting, our qualified criminal sex crimes lawyers can review the details of the operation to determine if entrapment occurred.
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Penalties for Soliciting a Prostitute in California
In California, soliciting a prostitute is a misdemeanor, but the penalties are still steep. In addition, you may face more severe punishments if you have previous sex crime convictions on your criminal record. In general, you may face the following penalties for a prostitution solicitation misdemeanor:
- Up to 180 days in jail
- Fines up to $1,000
- Government-required HIV/AIDS testing
- Mandatory AIDS education course
The worst penalties, however, go beyond the official sentence. While any allegation of associating with a prostitute is damaging, a conviction places a permanent mark upon you that can affect your reputation, career, and immigration status.
Therefore, if you are charged with soliciting a prostitute, it is well worth your time to fight it every step of the way. And the best way to do that is to hire a professional criminal defense lawyer who understands these types of cases.
Penalties for Soliciting a Minor in California
If you solicited a minor, you will face more severe penalties. A misdemeanor conviction could lead to $5,000 in fines, one year in county jail, and probation. If the charges constitute a felony, you may receive $10,000 in fines, 16 months to three years in a California state prison, and probation.
Determining whether your solicitation of a minor receives felony or misdemeanor charges depends on the circumstances of the case. Your case will qualify as a felony if you:
- Have a prior sex crime conviction on your criminal record
- Are a registered sex offender
- You attend the arranged meetup with the minor (even if no sexual acts occurred)
Fighting solicitation charges is an uphill battle, especially when minors are involved. Therefore, it’s imperative to have a well-versed unlawful sexual activity with a minor defense lawyer protecting your rights throughout the out process.
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Do I Need a Criminal Defense Lawyer for Solicitation Charges?
A conviction for soliciting a prostitute can have life-long consequences. But with a qualified Los Angeles solicitation of a prostitute defense attorney on your side, you can feel confident that your case will receive the fair representation it deserves.
Without a criminal defense lawyer in your corner, you may agree to a plea bargain or sentencing that your crimes do not deserve. A criminal defender will step in to help you understand all of your legal options and gather evidence to reduce your charges.
Everyone has the right to defend themselves in a court of law. And at Simmrin Law Group, our defense attorneys are committed to pursuing justice for every client, no matter how severe the charges are. Sex crimes are complex, and our legal team can help you understand the nuances of your case and devise an effective defense strategy that will lead to a favorable outcome.
Defenses for Fighting Solicitation Charges in Los Angeles
Our sex crimes attorneys will craft your defense based on your specific situation. Some of the most effective defenses we rely on include:
- Entrapment: We demonstrate that law enforcement caused you to commit the solicitation crime by proving preponderance of the evidence.
- Unawareness: We establish that you did not know the person was a prostitute and therefore were unaware that you were committing a crime.
- Insufficient evidence: We establish a lack of evidence to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Our attorneys can beat solicitation charges and prevent you from receiving harsh penalties with the right defensive course of action.
Partner With the Top Prostitution Solicitation Defenders in Los Angeles
The criminal defense attorneys at Simmrin Law Group will stop one mistake from ruining your future. Our lawyers defend you from solicitation of a prostitute allegations and fight to reduce or eliminate your charges. Contact our Los Angeles solicitation of a prostitute defense lawyers now, and we will set up a free case consultation.
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