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(727) 828-3900 In addition to prohibiting the advertisement or sale of sexual activity for any type of compensation, Florida state law also separately prohibits the solicitation of sexual activity from another person in exchange for compensation. In fact, under the current state statutes, people who pay, offer to pay, or attempt to pay for sex face harsher criminal consequences as both first-time offenders and repeat offenders than anyone acting as a prostitute would under the same circumstances.
Fighting back against an allegation of this nature can be difficult on multiple levels. You can significantly benefit from the support of a defense attorney who can protect your best interests both in and out of court. A St. Petersburg solicitation lawyer from Goldman Wetzel can construct the strongest possible defense against your criminal charges while also minimizing damage to your professional reputation and personal life.
Under subsection (2)(f) of Florida Statutes § 796.07, it is illegal to solicit, induce, entice, or procure another person to engage in any form of sexual contact or intercourse, to engage in any indecent or obscene act, or to solicit a prostitute on the initial actor’s behalf, a process known legally as assignation. Notably, the formulation of the definition of solicitation as a criminal offense is such that it criminalizes the act of seeking or paying for sexual services all on its own, without requiring that those services actually be provided.
Hence, you cannot effectively contest a solicitation charge by arguing that you did not actually engage in any sexual activity with another person unless you can prove that you also did not offer or provide them with any compensation and did not intend to pay them directly for sexual services. This can be a tricky issue to navigate during criminal proceedings. However, with guidance from a knowledgeable St. Petersburg solicitation attorney, you can maximize the chances of resolving your case as positively as possible.
Usually, a first-time offender convicted of soliciting prostitution in this state will face consequences commensurate with a first-degree misdemeanor. This means the maximum penalties a court could impose on them would be a year in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. However, the court can upgrade repeat offenses to third-degree or second-degree felonies depending on how many prior convictions you have on your record, as detailed in subsection (5)(a) of the statute mentioned above.
Furthermore, while facing an accusation of knowingly or unknowingly soliciting sexual services from a minor, there may be exponentially more severe penalties, as the court may recategorize your offense as sexual battery, sexual abuse of a child, or even a variant of human trafficking. Representation from a seasoned defense lawyer is essential to effectively contesting this type of solicitation charge in St. Petersburg.
Being accused of soliciting the services of a prostitute can disrupt every aspect of your life, even if the charges against you are ultimately dropped or dismissed. Facing conviction for such an offense, you may have to contend with steep fines, as well as potential jail or prison time, in addition to lasting reputational damage. However, with capable legal counsel, you can mitigate or even avoid it altogether.
We have years of experience handling cases that others will not and fighting diligently to defend the rights of people dealing with situations like yours. Call today to learn what a St. Petersburg solicitation lawyer from Goldman Wetzel can do for you.
