The crime of solicitation involves attempting to exchange money or other valuable items for sex and is the other side of the transaction from prostitution. If the police have charged you with soliciting, it is crucial that you seek out an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.
The right strategy could help you avoid a conviction, but it is vital that you act right away. Let our Cranberry Township solicitation lawyer at Benjamin Levine Law advise you of your legal options.
The state law is clear: it is illegal to attempt to solicit sexual favors in exchange for something of value. It is worth noting that the attempt alone is enough to be found guilty of the crime. A court could charge and convict you even if you never engage in a sexual act or provide any form of payment. Willfully making an offer of an illicit exchange is enough to qualify. To prove that you intended to solicit a prostitute, prosecutors could rely on a variety of evidence, including your words, conduct, or the exchange of money.
These transactions are not limited to money, however. Offering anything of value, including goods or services, could result in a conviction. Even the exchange of illegal drugs could result in a solicitation arrest.
The definition of solicitation extends beyond your own acts. Encouraging someone else to hire a prostitute is an offense and could lead to a conviction. The statute applies to someone acting as a “pimp” by arranging sexual acts between two people. Our Cranberry Township attorney could advise you on your legal options under any of these solicitation scenarios.
A more serious version of this offense involves the solicitation of a minor. This charge involves asking a juvenile to take part in a sexual act, but it does not have to involve a promise or exchange of money. Encouraging a minor to take part in sexual acts with other people can also lead to an arrest.
The penalties for standard solicitation charges are not as serious as for solicitation of a minor, but they can still dramatically impact your life and freedom. If the police charge you with a first or second solicitation offense, it is a third-degree misdemeanor. Third offenses are second-degree misdemeanors, while fourth and subsequent charges are first-degree misdemeanors. While none of these are felony charges, a conviction could still lead to incarceration and steep fines.
There are other facts that, combined with the underlying offense, could upgrade a charge to a felony. This includes knowingly soliciting a prostitute while having a positive diagnosis for AIDS or HIV.
In addition to jail time and fines, you could also have to register as a sex offender. Depending on the circumstances, this requirement could last for the rest of your life. Avoiding mandatory registration is an important reason why you should consider discussing your options with our Cranberry Township attorney if the police have charged you with attempting to arrange or procure an illegal activity.
While a solicitation charge is typically treated as a misdemeanor, a conviction can have a lasting impact on your life. Our firm understands how important it is to fight these allegations. All of our lawyers are former prosecutors, making them uniquely qualified to defend criminal cases like yours. Contact our Cranberry Township solicitation lawyer today to discuss your legal rights and options.