Assignation and Solicitation of Prostitution

Solicitation of Prostitution Charges in Central Florida

In recent years, prostitution charges have been on the rise in Orange, Seminole, Volusia, and Polk Counties. Police in Orlando and Sanford continue to arrest individuals, typically women, allegedly attempting to engage in acts of prostitution. However, our office has seen an increasingly high number of men being targeted in large undercover sex stings.

Solicitation of prostitution is a criminal offense that can have a serious impact on both your personal and professional life—particularly due to the stigma of having a prostitution charge on your record.

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Law Enforcement Tactics: Online Sex Stings

Law enforcement agencies now frequently use websites like Craigslist and the (now-defunct) Backpage.com to conduct undercover sting operations aimed at catching individuals soliciting prostitution. Departments such as the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office or Orange County Sheriff’s Office often post ads in the “casual encounters” section of Craigslist, advertising services like “body rubs,” massages, or female escorts.

An undercover officer, usually posing as a woman, will text or speak with the individual over the phone and attempt to get them to agree to exchange cash for sexual activity. The officer then lures the alleged “John” to a hotel room equipped with hidden video equipment. Once inside, the officer attempts to capture incriminating statements or actions on camera that reinforce the alleged criminal conduct.

When a potential agreement is reached, the officer signals for the “takedown.” At that point, additional officers enter the room, immediately Mirandize the individual, and attempt to obtain a confession.

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Strategies and Defenses

The primary defense in many sex sting cases, particularly those involving Craigslist or Backpage, is entrapment. Entrapment is an affirmative defense that is often decided by a jury. In some cases, a successful entrapment defense can lead to dismissal of the case through a Motion to Dismiss.

To prove entrapment, the defense must show:

1. The crime was instigated or created by law enforcement, and

2. The person charged would not have committed the offense without law enforcement’s involvement.

The less evidence the State has, the stronger an entrapment defense may be. A skilled criminal defense lawyer in Sanford will also explore issues involving improper Miranda warnings or unconstitutional searches and seizures of a person’s home, phone, or property.

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Elements and Penalties of Solicitation of Prostitution

To prove solicitation of prostitution, the State must show, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant offered to, or did, engage in the act of prostitution. Florida law defines prostitution as giving or receiving the body for sexual activity in exchange for money or something of value.

Penalties for solicitation of prostitution include:

• Mandatory HIV testing

• A mandatory $5,000 fine

• Up to 60 days in county jail for a first offense

A second offense is a first-degree misdemeanor.

The court treats a third offense as a third-degree felony and may impose up to five years in prison.

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Speak With a Local Defense Attorney

Speak with an experienced defense attorney right away if you face solicitation of prostitution charges. We represent clients facing sex crime charges throughout Orlando, Sanford, Seminole County, and Orange County.

Speak with a Sanford prostitution solicitation lawyer at Yadav Law today.