Los Angeles Prostitution Lawyer

Fighting Prostitution Charges

Prostitution arrests are a common occurrence in Los Angeles. In fact, Los Angeles police make prostitution arrests on a daily basis using a variety of undercover methods, such as targeting and closing websites and online personal ads, breaking up prostitution rings and performing clandestine sting operations. The Internet, cell phones and newspaper ads are used to catch suspects. As a result, innocent citizens with no criminal history can be arrested and accused of prostitution or other offenses, simply by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. If you have been charged with prostitution or related charges, you need the assistance of an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at Stephen G. Rodriguez and Associates. We understand how California's prostitution laws work and will use that knowledge to aggressively defend you. We look forward to your contact to schedule your free consultation.

Prostitution Attorney in Los Angeles

In the most general sense, prostitution is offering or having sex for money. Both the person who offered the sex and the person who accepted the sex can be convicted. It doesn't matter if you answered an ad for a "personal escort" or "masseuse"; if sexual activity was part of the service and money changed hands, it was illegal.

Per California Penal Code Section 647(b), it is illegal to solicit, agree to engage in, or engage in any act of prostitution. The crime is charged as a misdemeanor. Specifics of the law include:

Solicitation of prostitution: To solicit prostitution is to urge, induce or entice another person to engage in an act of prostitution. The person soliciting must have a specific intent to engage in an act of prostitution. Both the prostitute and the customer can solicit prostitution. For example, if a man approaches a woman in a bar and tells her that he will pay her $150 if she will have sex with him, he is guilty of soliciting prostitution even if the deal does not go through.
Agreeing to engage in prostitution: If a person accepts an offer to have sex for money, and specifically intends to complete the act, and then acts on that intention, it is prostitution. For example, if a woman in a bar agrees to have sex for $150 and then gives the man in the bar her room key, the legal requirements have been met, even if the agreement is never consummated.
Engaging in an act of prostitution: Willfully engaging in sexual intercourse or any lewd act in exchange for money or other consideration is prostitution. A lewd act occurs when either the prostitute or the customer uses a body part to touch the genitals, buttocks or breast of the other party for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification. According to the law, both the prostitute and the customer are engaged in an act of prostitution when they engage in sexual intercourse.
Loitering for Prostitution: In California, individuals who are arrested for prostitution are often additionally charged with this offense. According to the California Penal Code Section 653.22, it is a crime to be in some areas with no lawful reason with the intent to commit prostitution. For example, standing on a street corner for the purpose of attracting the attention of a passing "john" would be considered loitering for prostitution. This offense is also charged as a misdemeanor.

Possession of condoms or cash money by the customer or possession of a client book and/or sexy attire by the person soliciting may suggest that some type of prostitution was going to occur, but in and of itself, prostitution cannot be charged.

Following are the potential penalties for prostitution-related offenses. The penalties will be more severe if a minor is involved or the defendant is a repeat offender. They include:

Up to 6 months in county jail
Up to $1,000 fine
Probation
Counseling
AIDS testing
Community service
Physical labor
Driver's license suspension or vehicle impound

If you have been arrested and charged with prostitution, there are a variety of defenses available. Depending on the facts and circumstances of your case, one of these arguments could be used to get the charges against you dismissed or reduced. For example:

Lack of evidence: An agreement to engage in prostitution is difficult to prove unless the police have a recording of the conversation when the deal was made. Also, if you had no money on you at the arrest, it is difficult for the prosecution to show that you specifically intended to hire a prostitute.
Entrapment: If you are normally a law abiding citizen and was unfairly lured into a sting operation by police, you could have the charges dismissed. To prove entrapment, you must show that it is likely the conduct of the "decoy" police officer was such that it would have induced a normally law abiding citizen to engage in an act of prostitution.
Mistake: If you did not intend to solicit, agree to engage in or engage in any act of prostitution but you called an escort service or went to a massage parlor and got arrested, you can argue that you simply needed a date or a massage.

If you are convicted of prostitution or a related offense, you face a misdemeanor conviction, a permanent record and a damaged reputation. While there are many defenses to these types of charges, each case is unique and fighting the charges depends on the available evidence. Your first line of defense is contacting a skilled criminal defense attorney at our firm. We will evaluate the prosecutor's case, examine the evidence, talk to witnesses and work with you to build a compelling defense. We welcome your contact at your earliest opportunity.

For an aggressive representation to protect your rights and your freedom, contact a Los Angeles prostitution lawyer immediately.