PROSTITUTION AND SOLICITATION ATTORNEYS IN DALLAS, TEXAS

Accusations of prostitution can cause severe harm to the alleged offender, even if the individual did not commit the crime. The social stigma of these crimes can cause irreparable damage to your life. If you receive charges of prostitution or solicitation, you must understand that the charges do not have to haunt you for the rest of your life.

Keith and Kevin Harris are experienced Dallas criminal lawyers who work with alleged criminals to uphold their rights. They offer aggressive defense and fight to help individuals clear their records of false contentions. Let the Harris brothers protect your rights against claims of prostitution or solicitation.

Committing Prostitution, Solicitation, and Related Crimes in Texas

Texas has very specific laws prohibiting prostitution and the solicitation of prostitution. According to the Texas Penal Code, an individual commits this offense if he or she knowingly engages in any type of sexual conduct for a fee. Individuals can receive charges for prostitution by simply agreeing or offering sexual activity for payment. If an individual solicits another for sexual activity in a public place for a fee, this is also a crime.

Promoting and compelling prostitution are similar criminal offenses that are indirectly involved with the actual act of prostitution. If an individual receives money or property as payment for prostitution or solicits another to engage in the act, the state may accuse this person of the promotion of prostitution. Compelling another individual by force, threat or fraud to commit prostitution is also illegal. Serious legal punishment often accompanies these crimes.

Penalties for Prostitution Crimes

Both prostitution and solicitation are Class B misdemeanors. Those convicted of the crime of prostitution can receive a jail sentence of no more than 180 days and/or a fine of no more than $2,000 for the first incident. Repeated offenders experience increasing penalties. This includes the second incident elevating the charge to a Class A misdemeanor. The third conviction can result in a state jail felony. If the person solicited is under the age of 18, these penalties will drastically increase to felony charges, even if it is only the first offense.

Defense for Prostitution Charges

A knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer can help individuals charged with prostitution or solicitation find the proper defense for their specific case. Two examples of defenses against these charges include:

• Entrapment – Police officers cannot encourage or urge you to commit a crime. If you receive charges of prostitution crimes as the result of an undercover police operation, the police may have unlawfully entrapped you into committing the crime.

• No Monetary Exchange – If law enforcement cannot produce evidence that there was money exchanged, then the act was merely consensual sex between individuals and no crime occurred.

Many defenses against prostitution crimes can protect you, but you must gain the support of experienced legal counsel who can drastically improve your chances of avoiding convictions.