Oakland Solicitation Attorney

Solicitation of Prostitution California

Have you been charged with the solicitation of prostitution in Oakland? The Law Office of Nabiel C. Ahmed can help. With More than 15 years of legal experience, our accomplished Oakland solicitation attorney will guide you through your case. Though the legal penalties for soliciting a prostitute are milder than other sex crimes, being accused of this crime can cause irreparable damage to your reputation. As a result, utilizing a capable Oakland solicitation of a prostitute lawyer will help repair or prevent damages to your personal life.

Understanding California Law on Solicitation of Prostitution

Soliciting a prostitute involves luring, enticing, or eliciting sexual acts from another individual. Typically, enticing a prostitute to perform sexual acts involves compensating them monetarily or with items such as illegal drugs. It is important to note that actual crime of prostitution does not need to have been committed in order for an individual to be charged with solicitation, nor does money have to change hands. Being charged with solicitation only requires an initial offering to pay money in exchange for sex.

Elements required to convict a defendant for solicitation of prostitution include the following:

• The defendant communicated a desire to compensate another party for sexual acts
• The defendant intended to engage in sexual activity with the individual

California Penalties for Prostitute Solicitation

Soliciting a prostitute is a misdemeanor offense in the State of California. The penalties for solicitation can vary depending on the situation. In certain cases, including solicitation to engage in sexual activity with a minor, California law requires convicted defendants to register as sex offenders.

The following penalties may apply to those charged with soliciting a prostitute:

• Up to 6 months in county jail
• Up to $1,000 in fines
• Minimum of 45 days in county jail for second offense
• Minimum of 90 days in county jail for third offense
• Possible driver's license suspension
• Possible seizure of your vehicle

Defenses Against Prostitute Solicitation in CA

Defense against a solicitation charge can be challenging, even if the defendant did not intend to commit a crime. However, challenging intent may be an effective defense for a charge of solicitation. Challenging the intent of the defendant requires building a cohesive argument that proves that their intention was misinterpreted by law enforcement. A solid source proving intent may be a witness or, in some cases, a law enforcement officer.

Another common defense to charges of soliciting a prostitute is entrapment, often argued in cases that involve undercover sting operations. In these cases, the defense can argue that the defendant would not have offered to engage in sexual activity if it were not for the enticement or pressure of an undercover police officer.

Reducing Your Charges to Protect Your Relationships

Charges of soliciting a prostitute often comes with a negative reputation when others find out of the charges. This damaged reputation may destroy marriages, relationships, cause custody battles, and even end careers. Our Oakland solicitation attorney has the experience needed to defend those who are facing solicitation crimes. We use our experience in the courtroom to deliver the results our clients need. To help you get started, we offer confidential consultations to all prospective clients. During your consultation, we will evaluate your case and guide you through the next steps for your specific case.