New Kent Prostitution Lawyer

Prostitution charges can be highly damaging to your life, especially from a professional perspective. These allegations may prevent you from bettering yourself and having access to more job opportunities. As a result, you may wish to seek the advice of a New Kent prostitution lawyer if you are facing these or any related charges.

Working with a seasoned criminal defense attorney from the outset of your case may make a difference in its outcome. With a strong legal advocate on your side, you may place yourself in a better position to reach a favorable resolution of the charges against you.

Prostitution Charges in New Kent

Under Virginia Code §18.2-346, individuals commit prostitution if they engage in various forms of sexual activity in exchange for money or something else of value. For this crime to occur, however, the accused individuals must have taken a substantial step toward completing this transaction. Absent this required act, the state cannot convict individuals of prostitution.

As a result of this limited definition, an offer to perform a sexual act, with nothing more, is unlikely to merit prostitution charges. However, other actions may qualify as the required steps toward committing this crime. Some of these may include:

• Taking an amount of money from another to pay for sex
• Meeting someone at a prearranged location or renting a hotel room to engage in a sexual act
• Accompanying another person to an ATM to get an agreed-upon sum of money
• Taking someone to a location to carry out a previously discussed sexual act

A lawyer in New Kent could discern whether enough evidence of a substantial act in furtherance of prostitution exists in a specific case. A lack of evidence could lead to the dismissal or reduction of criminal charges in some instances.

What Does it Mean to Solicit Prostitution?

Under state law, solicitation of prostitution is a criminal offense equal to prostitution, with the same charges and penalties. The difference between the two acts is that solicitation occurs when one person asks another to provide them with a sexual act in exchange for money or other items of value. Again, as is the case with prostitution, no conviction for solicitation may occur unless there is substantial action taken to carry out the solicitation.

As a result, individuals are unlikely to be convicted of solicitation for merely suggesting that others provide them with prostitution services. Until those individuals take an affirmative step to complete the transaction, the behavior is not criminal. Some examples of these actions may include withdrawing money in an agreed-upon sum or going to a prearranged location.

Penalties for Prostitution Offenses in New Kent

Both prostitution and solicitation are Class 1 misdemeanors under state law. A conviction for a Class 1 misdemeanor may result in a jail sentence of one year and a fine of $2,500. A conviction also creates a permanent criminal record that can be challenging to overcome when applying for employment, financing, and housing.

Even an arrest has the potential to cause job loss and create a stigma that individuals may be unable to avoid. Reputation in the community can be invaluable, both personally and professionally, and a stain on that reputation can be damaging well into the future. A prostitution lawyer in New Kent could strategize a defense that allows individuals to avoid or minimize these types of consequences.

Talk to a New Kent Prostitution Attorney

Facing criminal charges can be a highly stressful and intimidating experience. Many people who face prostitution charges have little previous involvement with the criminal justice system and may be unsure how to proceed. Retaining a New Kent prostitution lawyer can be critical to defending yourself against these charges.

Prostitution is a sex crime that may have untold consequences on all aspects of your life. Avoiding the repercussions of a conviction can be essential to protecting your future.