Solicitation of Prostitution

Solicitation of Prostitution Defense Lawyer in Riverside

It seems every day there is another story in the news about a celebrity, politician, or other national figure who has been arrested for solicitation of prostitution. When it happens to you, however, it is different. The stigma involved with an arrest for soliciting a prostitute can ruin your relationships and your reputation. If you have been charged with soliciting a prostitute, it is imperative that you enlist the services of a skilled Riverside sex crime attorney from Blumenthal Law Offices to protect your future.

Countless clients have trusted our firm to defend them for the following reasons:

• More than 100 years’ of combined legal experience
• Prestigious Super Lawyers® distinction
• AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
• Selected amongst The Best Lawyers in America for 30+ years
• Honest communication, available 24/7

Is Prostitution Legal in California?

Under California prostitution laws, it is illegal to pay for or sell sex. Prostitution is considered a crime under California’s disorderly conduct statute that includes exchanging money to solicit sex, exchanging money or another valuable item to participate in a sex act or agreeing to a sex act in exchange of money.

Agreeing to a sex act for money alone is not enough to convict a person of disorderly conduct. However, if action is taken that signifies that the act will be done (such as getting into a vehicle to have sex for money), it is evidence of prostitution.

Penalties for Solicitation of Prostitution in California

Anyone who solicits, agrees to engage in, or engages in an act of prostitution can be accused of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor. This involves agreeing to exchange money, drugs, or some other form of payment in exchange for sex or sexual favors. Anyone who acts as a middleman between the prostitute and the solicitor, legally referred to as “John,” can be charged with pandering or pimping. Loitering in a public place for the purpose of engaging in prostitution is also a misdemeanor.

A conviction can result in the following penalties:

• Up to six months in county jail
• Fines up to $1,000
• Probation
• Mandatory AIDS education

These penalties may increase if an accused person has a prior criminal record of similar offenses. A second conviction will result in a minimum sentence of 45 days in jail, while a third conviction will carry a minimum sentence of 90 days in jail. If the alleged solicitation occurred with the use of a car and within 1,000 feet of a residence, a 30 day driver’s license suspension may be imposed.

Defenses Against Solicitation Charges

In their effort to rid neighborhoods of prostitution, police often step over the line. We will review the police report and investigate to determine whether the authorities followed the letter of the law in making your arrest.

A number of different defenses can be employed depending on the circumstances of your arrest:

• Entrapment: If you were arrested in a sting operation involving an undercover police officer, you may have been a victim of entrapment. Entrapment occurs when police officers pressures a person through the use of pressure, threats, or harassment into committing an offense that they otherwise would not have committed. Anyone who is found to be a victim of entrapment cannot be found guilty of solicitation.
• Insufficient Evidence: In some cases, there is not enough evidence present to convict a person of solicitation. This can be used if there was an ambiguous conversation about the exchange of money for sex, or if there was an agreement for sex without any discussion of payment.
• Mistake: People are sometimes arrested for solicitation simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. If you were responding to a “call girl” or “escort” service advertisement and were only looking, you may not be found guilty of solicitation. Similarly, being arrested in a place known for prostitution does not mean that you were looking to engage in a lewd act.

Protecting Your Reputation & Future in California

At Blumenthal Law Offices, our Riverside criminal defense attorneys understand that a charge of solicitation can be an embarrassing moment in the life of an otherwise law-abiding citizen. It is often a one-time offense. We will work to protect your rights and minimize the negative consequences to you.

We not only represent individuals who have been charged with solicitation, loitering, pandering, and prostitution, we also represent business owners charged with operating a brothel or supplying call girls, child prostitutes, or other sexual services.