Being arrested and charged with solicitation can be both frightening and embarrassing. The situation is serious because your reputation and freedom are at stake. If you face these charges, it is essential to speak with a Laguna Beach solicitation lawyer.
With over 40 years of combined sex crime defense experience, our skilled criminal defense attorneys at The Law Office of Scott D. Henry could effectively defend your rights and fight aggressively to obtain a positive outcome in your case. We could help prevent or minimize any consequences so you can put this chapter behind you.
Soliciting prostitution is when an individual (commonly referred to as the “John”) offers another individual compensation to perform a lewd or sexual act. It also refers to an individual agreeing to perform the act for compensation. These crimes are detailed in California Penal Code 647(b) PC and can carry considerable penalties if convicted. For someone to be convicted of this crime, the prosecutor must prove that the defendant intended to solicit a prostitute and their actions indicated furtherance of the transaction, such as withdrawing money. A lawyer in Laguna Beach could prepare a defense in a solicitation case that argues there was no intent to commit this crime.
Due to the sexual nature of solicitation, these crimes are viewed as serious and are punished accordingly. Penalties for soliciting prostitution vary and depend on the specifics of the case. For a first-time conviction, penalties can include a maximum of six months in jail and fines of up to $1,000. For a second conviction, the defendant will receive a minimum of 45 days in jail and up to a $1,000 fine. There is also a mandatory minimum sentence of 45 days and up to $1,000 fine for any subsequent convictions.
In addition to any court-imposed penalties, a solicitation conviction can cause long-term, irreparable damage to your reputation as well as your personal and professional lives. A Laguna Beach attorney could work to minimize any penalties a person may be facing in a solicitation case.
In an effort to catch individuals engaging in the act of prostitution, law enforcement agencies often perform prostitution stings. Typically, an undercover officer stands in an area where prostitution is known to occur and gets the attention of passing drivers. When the driver stops, they have a conversation involving the exchange of sexual acts for compensation. The officer then leads the individual to a motel room where they are arrested for solicitation of prostitution.
Entrapment is when law enforcement officers use coercion or other methods to get a normally law-abiding citizen to commit a crime. In other words, law enforcement originates the idea of committing the illegal act of solicitation and gets the individual to commit that act. Although an entrapment defense deters officers from being overzealous in urging those who would otherwise not commit the crime of solicitation to do so, it is a challenging defense to prove. Our seasoned Laguna Beach attorneys have been successful in using entrapment defenses and could review the specifics of your solicitation case to determine if this strategy would be a viable and appropriate option.
If you have been charged with soliciting a prostitute, it is imperative to consult immediately with a leading Laguna Beach solicitation lawyer. There is too much at stake to gamble with your future. At The Law Office of Scott D. Henry, we understand the seriousness of your situation and genuinely want to help you obtain the best possible outcome. We could discreetly investigate the charges, build a strong defense strategy, negotiate aggressively on your behalf, and fight skillfully in court if needed. We are dedicated to ensuring your rights are protected and will do anything within our power to get you the result you need. Contact our office today for a free consultation with one of our highly-regarded defense attorneys.
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