Long Beach Prostitution Lawyer

Defending Against Prostitution Charges in California

Prostitution is a misdemeanor criminal offense under California state law, which is punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of $1,000. In addition to this sentence, anyone who is convicted will end up with a criminal record that may come up in the future during interviews for employment or on a rental application.

Understanding Prostitution Charges in California

Even if the alleged perpetrator is not convicted, the simple fact of being arrested for this sex crime can have a devastating impact on one's social and professional reputation. If you have been charged with prostitution, it is in your best interests to hire a Long Beach criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible to help you minimize the damage to your reputation and to help you avoid the serious consequences of a conviction.

Prostitution is defined as engaging in sexual acts in exchange for money or remuneration. In California, this can be charged against the prostitute and customer (the "john"). In order to secure a conviction, it is not necessary for the prosecutor to prove any type of sexual activity actually took place or there was an exchange of payment. All that is required is proof that you either made or accepted an offer and did intend to carry through on the offer.

Come to West Coast Defense, where we understand how important it is for you to handle this situation quickly and discretely and are ready to put our years of experience as prosecutors to work for you.

Defenses Against Prostitution Charges

Defending against a charge of prostitution can be difficult, given that the arrest is often made while the act is being performed and under circumstances that make it clear that it is prostitution rather than merely being an instance of consensual sex. In other situations, the defendant is the victim of a sting operation in which an undercover police officer poses either as a prostitute or as a john and entices the defendant into committing the necessary elements of the crime. Such cases are often surveilled, which provides additional evidence.

It may be possible to prove that the police used entrapment, which consists of pressuring, harassing, or otherwise compelling the defendant to commit the crime when he or she would not otherwise have done so. In other cases, the strategy depends on demonstrating that there simply is not enough evidence to prove that an exchange of payment took place or that either party offered or accepted payment for sex. The key to beating the charges is to retain legal representation immediately so your attorney can begin investigating the case and building a defense.

Contact us at (800) 922-6989 to schedule a no-cost consultation and case review.