Prostitution is a crime in every state in the U.S. except for Nevada, where it is heavily regulated. Arizona’s laws punish the people who solicit a prostitute, the person who performs sexual acts for money (prostitute) and those who operate or control a prostitution house. Even a basic prostitution charge can have devastating consequences upon conviction. At The Law Offices of John Phebus, we represent those charged with prostitution and those charged with the solicitation of a prostitute. If you need an experienced Glendale prostitution defense attorney, contact our office as soon as possible at (623) 847-7117.
Individuals charged with prostitution and/or solicitation may face penalties such as fines, jail time, community service and a criminal record. Many courts require a minimum of 15 days in jail, even for a first offense. It is the goal of our Glendale criminal defense lawyer to aggressively defend you whether this is your first offense or you have prior convictions.
There are numerous types of prostitution charges, including:
No matter your charge, contact our Glendale prostitution defense lawyer for legal help. A defense attorney will be able to represent you during court appearances, explain your charges and develop a defense strategy to reach the best possible outcome. A prostitution charge can have serious consequences, just like in any other criminal case, having an experienced lawyer by your side can make the difference. Call a Glendale prostitution defense attorney from The Law Offices of John Phebus for a free initial case review at (623) 847-7117.
Arizona Revised Statute 13-1002 defines solicitation as commanding, encouraging, requesting or soliciting another person into committing illegal acts or conduct with the intent to promote the commission of the crime, in a way that would establish that person’s complicity in the commission of the crime. While, technically, solicitation can refer to enticing or demanding someone to engage in any type of criminal activity, the most common use of this charge is solicitation for prostitution.
In Arizona, someone does not have to commit the actual crime being solicited to be guilty of solicitation. Convincing another person to steal something, for example, meets the crime of solicitation even without being the one to do the stealing. In another example, going through with an act of prostitution is not a prerequisite for a solicitation for prostitution charge. It is enough to try to solicit someone into doing something illegal, even if the illegal act never actually takes place.
To convict a defendant of solicitation in Arizona, the prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant commanded, encouraged, requested or solicited another person into committing an illegal act, such as prostitution. In a case involving solicitation of prostitution, both the person offering money for sex and the person offering sex acts for money could be guilty of the crime. Both parties are soliciting the other to commit illegal acts. In most cases, the crime of solicitation must also involve the intent to engage in the criminal act with the person solicited.
Arizona’s solicitation for prostitution penalties are some of the harshest in the country. Solicitation is always illegal, with varying consequences depending on the nature of the crime. A conviction for solicitation of prostitution is generally a misdemeanor, not a felony. Prostitution is a Class 1 misdemeanor, while solicitation of prostitution is a Class 3 misdemeanor. Soliciting someone for a more serious crime, such as a Class 6 felony, however, could lead to more serious charges, such as a Class 2 misdemeanor. Solicitation may lead to felony charges is if it was solicitation of a Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 felony crime.
A misdemeanor will still, however, end up on your permanent record, unless your prostitution defense lawyer can talk the courts into reducing the charge to an infraction. Infractions do not go on a person’s criminal record or lead to jail time. If you receive a misdemeanor or felony conviction for solicitation, on the other hand, you could end up with 15 days to 6 months behind bars for a first offense, along with a $2,500 fine and 3 years of probation. These penalties can vary according to the circumstances and the county where the arrest took place. The crime will also go on your permanent record.
It may be possible to beat a solicitation charge or lessen the penalties with help from a criminal defense attorney. An attorney can review your case and create a custom strategy for combatting the charges against you. Possible defenses can include the wrong defendant, lack of intent to solicit and insufficient evidence. Lack of intent is one of the most common defenses, in which the defendant asserts he or she was not planning on actually going through with the crime in question. Challenging the evidence obtained is also a frequent strategy used to combat solicitation charges.
Entrapment may also be a usable defense if a law enforcement officer induced you to commit the crime of solicitation. Using this defense takes proving that you would not have committed the crime in question were it not for the actions the law enforcement officer took. This is a difficult legal defense to use but could work if an undercover police officer took extreme measures to trick you into soliciting a crime, such as threatening you. In most cases, the idea of committing the crime must have come from the police officer, not from you, for an entrapment defense. Work with a Glendale prostitution defense attorney to discuss possible defense strategies in your unique case.
If a man or woman exposes his or her genitals, or a woman exposes her areola or nipple to another person in a public place, it can be considered indecent exposure and face criminal charges. A conviction for public sexual indecency can lead to an individual’s registration as a sex offender. A criminal record and inclusion on the sex offender registry can severely limit job or housing opportunities. You need skilled criminal defense attorneys on your side from the very start. We will fight to get your sex crime charges reduced or defend you in court if negotiations with the prosecutor fall through.
If you have questions regarding prostitution, solicitation and public sexual indecency, schedule a free consultation at The Law Offices of John Phebus. Our criminal defense attorney can be reached by calling (623) 847-7117 or by completing our online contact form. Our office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Evening and weekend appointments are available based on the needs of our clients.
