The first thing that comes to mind when we think about prostitution as a criminal offense is engaging in sexual acts for compensation. If you have been charged with solicitation of a prostitute or prostitution-related offenses in California, you may be facing fines, probation, and even incarceration if convicted.
It is a crime to solicit another person to commit certain other offenses. This includes solicitation of lewd conduct and solicitation of prostitution. In California, solicitation is defined as asking or encouraging another person to engage in prostitution, or agree to do so. This can be done through words, actions, or even by displaying an advertisement for prostitution services. Solicitation is a misdemeanor offense in California, and offenders can face up to six months in jail if convicted.
A prostitute is someone who engages in sexual intercourse or a lewd act with another person in exchange for money or another form of compensation. To be convicted of engaging in prostitution , you must be found guilty of:. Helfend did an amazing job defending my case, I highly recommend him to anyone in need of a great criminal defense attorney.
Agreeing to engage in prostitution is a fairly recent amendment to Penal Code b. Prior to , the code only penalized engaging in prostitution and soliciting prostitution.
If person 1 proposes or offers to engage in prostitution, they may be charged with solicitation. If person 2 accepts the offer, then they may be charged with agreeing to engage in prostitution. To be convicted of agreeing to engage in prostitution , you must be found guilty of:. Because the act of furtherance of prostitution is what makes this charge different from a solicitation charge, it is essential that the prosecutor can prove an act of furtherance in order to make a conviction.
