Los Angeles Solicitation Lawyer

Fighting for Your Rights in a Solicitation Case

Covert "stings" are often carried out by law enforcement agencies in order to catch individuals in the act of sex solicitation. Unfortunately, such operations are famous for trapping innocent people who have no criminal history and simply got mixed up in an unfortunate situation. At Stephen G. Rodriguez and Associates we are committed to safeguarding your rights if you have been arrested for solicitation. We know that hiring the right criminal defense attorney is extremely important at a time when your whole life is hanging in the balance and you need to achieve the best possible outcome to your case. We invite you to contact a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney to schedule your free consultation and learn how our firm, with a proven record of success in sex offense defense, may be able to help you get your life back.

Solicitation and prostitution are closely linked sex crimes. Under California Penal Code Section 647(b), it is illegal to solicit, agree to engage in, or engage in any act of prostitution. Solicitation of prostitution is described as urging, inducing or enticing another person to engage in an act of prostitution. The person soliciting must have a specific intent to engage in an act of prostitution and both the prostitute and the customer can be solicitors. As a simple 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.

Solicitation is charged as a misdemeanor offense under California law. As such, the penalties can include up to 6 months in county jail, a maximum fine of $1,000, probation, and counseling, AIDS testing, community service, physical labor, driver's license suspension and vehicle impoundment. The penalties will be more severe if a minor is involved or if the defendant is a repeat offender.

Solicitation Defense Attorney in Los Angeles

If you have been arrested and charged with solicitation, we can fight the charges based on a number of criminal defenses including lack of evidence, entrapment or mistake. If you are convicted, you face a misdemeanor conviction, a permanent criminal record and a damaged reputation. Your first action should be to contact a skilled criminal defense attorney at our firm to build a compelling defense on your behalf. With 70 years of combined legal experience, our lawyers have represented countless people in situations similar to yours and have successfully helped them avoid most if not all of the consequences of a solicitation charge. If we cannot get the charges against you dismissed altogether and a satisfactory plea agreement cannot be reached, we will not hesitate to take your case to trial to obtain a "Not Guilty" verdict on your behalf.

For your best chance at a successful outcome in your case, contact a Los Angeles solicitation lawyer at Stephen G. Rodriguez & Associates as soon as possible.