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
Accused of solicitation of prostitution?
Call us today at (951) 682-5110 to tell us about your situation in further detail.
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:
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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.
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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.
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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.