Los Angeles Solicitation, Prostitution & Escorting
If you have been accused of solicitation, prostitution, or escorting, you need to be aware of the law and possible penalties you could be facing. The California Penal Code sections 647(b), 653.22 and LAMC 103.107(b) gives a detailed description of the offenses as well as the consequences you could encounter.
Solicitation for Prostitution – California Penal Code 647(b)
Solicitation is defined as the act of requesting another person to engage in an act of prostitution, with the intent to engage in the act of prostitution. When the Defendant is charged with violating Penal Code 647(b), the prosecutor has the burden to prove the following three elements:
1. The defendant requested that another person engage in an act of prostitution;
2. The defendant intended to engage in an act of prostitution with the other person; and
3. The other person received the communication containing the request.
In Los Angeles County, undercover vice officers routinely set-up sting operations to arrest potential customers, commonly referred to as the “John” as well as women who advertise on local websites and newspapers under Escort Services. The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office routinely file criminal charges against individuals for violating California Penal Code section 647(b), Solicitation for Prostitution.
Engaging in an Act of Prostitution – California Penal Code 647(b)
Prostitution is defined under California Penal Code section 647(b) as engaging in sexual conduct for money or other consideration. To prove that the defendant is guilty of the crime of engaging in prostitution in violation of Penal Code 647(b), the People must prove that the defendant willfully engaged in sexual intercourse or a lewd act with someone else in exchange for money.
When the alleged prostitute and the alleged customer engage in sexual intercourse or lewd acts in exchange for money or other consideration, both of them can be charged for engaging in an act of prostitution in violation of Penal Code 647(b). A lewd act means the touching of the genitals, buttocks, or female breast of either the prostitute or customer with some part of the other person’s body for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification of either person. Someone commits an act willfully when he or she does it willingly or on purpose.
Agreeing to Engage in an Act of Prostitution – California Penal Code § 647(b)
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office can file criminal charges against a defendant in violation of California Penal Code section 647(b) if the Defendant solicited a person for prostitution, engaged in the act of prostitution, or agreed to engage in the act of prostitution. Most commonly, the accused is arrested when he or she agrees to engage in the act of prostitution. When a defendant is charged with agreeing to engage in an act of prostitution, the prosecutor must prove the following:
1. The defendant agreed to engage in an act of prostitution with someone else;
2. The defendant intended to engage in an act of prostitution with that person; and
3. In addition to agreeing, the defendant did something to further the commission of an act of prostitution.
If the prosecution fails to prove each and every one of these elements, then the Defendant is not found in violation of California Penal Code section 647(b).
Were you arrested in Los Angeles County?
If you have been arrested for solicitation or prostitution, loitering, or escorting without a permit (license) contact Khachatourians Law Group for a criminal defense consultation.
Mr. Khachatourians routinely represents clients throughout Southern California (CA) including, but not limited to, the following courthouses: Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, Newport Courthouse, Alhambra Courthouse, Airport Courthouse, Bellflower Courthouse, Glendale Courthouse, Pasadena Courthouse, San Fernando Courthouse and Van Nuys Courthouse.
Defending Prostitution and Solicitation Charges in Los Angeles
Los Angeles law enforcement is constantly engaged in “sting” operations with the goal of cleaning the streets of prostitutes and punishing those who solicit individuals for prostitution. These operations range from falsely presenting themselves as a potential customer on street corners or attempting to lure individuals through internet advertisements. In some instances, the arrest may be a mistake or a product of police entrapment. Entrapment is a defense against a charge of solicitation of prostitution where it can be shown that the law enforcement agency encouraged or enticed the defendant to commit the crime. If you have been caught through some similar event and accused of prostitution or solicitation of prostitution, it is vital that you immediately contact a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer to take action in defending your case.
Many who have been caught in a sting operation related to an internet site do not realize that they are not safe from prosecution. When law enforcement targets these sites the results can be a disaster to your professional and personal reputation. Acting quickly in engaging the services of a skilled defense lawyer at once is crucial. There are frequently actions that can be taken at the outset of the case that can result in a dismissal of the charge or a reduced charge.
Sting Operations in Los Angeles & Van Nuys
Sting Operations are very common in the cities of Los Angeles, Hollywood, and Van Nuys. A male police officer acts as a customer and befriends the alleged prostitute to engage in sex for money or a female officer poses as a street prostitute or a private escort to lure a man to the take down room. In Los Angeles County, both the alleged prostitute and the “John” are aggressively prosecuted for solicitation and intent to engage in prostitution. The alleged prostitute may also be charged with escorting without a license (permit). Penalties can range from community service, county jail, probation, AIDS testing, fines, counseling, Cal Trans, and/or jail enhancements.
“The John”
The customer of a prostitute is referred to as “the John.” Sting operations are set up where female vice officers pretend to be prostitutes and solicit male customers to a hotel/motel room (the take down room) where they are arrested.
“Call Girl”
Whether the advertisement states Call Girl, Escort, Erotic Massage, the act of exchanging money or any other form of consideration in exchange for sexual arousal is a crime. Advertisements for erotic services, escorts, and massage therapists, are routinely targeted by Los Angeles vice officers and Defendants are routinely prosecuted under California Penal Code section 647(b).
With the increase in Internet usage, law enforcement officers are routinely reviewing websites and erotic profiles. Escorting websites that state “ROSES,” “FLOWERS,” or “DONATIONS” do not provide an adequate defense for the defendant but provide circumstantial evidence for the prosecuting agency as to the defendant’s intent to engage in sex for money.
Escorting without a License – LAMC 103.107.1
Escorting without a permit is a Los Angeles Municipal Code violation that is charged in connection to an arrest for prostitution. Los Angeles Municipal Code section 103.107.1 states that “[n]o person shall conduct, manage or carry on any escort bureau without a written permit from the Board.” “No escorting permit will be issued to the individual unless the Board is furnished with satisfactory evidence of the good moral character of such escort.”
Los Angeles Vice officers frequently arrest females and charge them with escorting without a permit and prostitution. The defendant’s classified or internet advertisement is used as circumstantial evidence of her intent to engage in an act of escorting without a permit and/or prostitution.
420 Busts
420 is the way to express the acceptance of smoking marijuana. Using the term 420 friendly on a personal advertisement in exchange for sexual conduct is illegal. Los Angeles Vice Officers set sting operations and use common 420 advertisements such as, “I am 420 Friendly, Very Nice, Easy to talk to,” in an attempt to arrest individuals for solicitation for prostitution.
Entrapment
Entrapment is a defense. A person is entrapped if a law enforcement officer engages in conduct that would cause a normal law-abiding person to commit the crime. Some examples of entrapment might include conduct like badgering, persuasion by flattery or coaxing, repeated and insistent requests, or an appeal to friendship or sympathy. Another example of entrapment would be conduct that would make the commission of the crime unusually attractive to a normal law-abiding person. Such conduct might include a guarantee that the act is not illegal or that the offense would go undetected, an offer of extraordinary benefit, or other similar conduct.
Prostitution Defense Attorney in Los Angeles
Facing the prospect of a court appearance, bail, public humiliation, fines, community service, jail time, probation, counseling, AIDS testing, and Cal Trans work is a frightening situation. It is vital that you act quickly so that action can be taken to fight to avoid the penalties and other damage suffered by those who are convicted of these offenses. A careful evaluation of the situation and every aspect of the evidence against the accused client is the first order of business. When defending such cases, the legal team at the firm understands how important the outcome is to the accused client and will act accordingly.