Solvang Criminal Defense Attorney

Sanford Horowitz Criminal Defense, P.C.

CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE 647(B): PROSTITUTION/SOLICITATION

Solvang is a Danish village nestled in the Santa Ynez Valley that looks and smells like Christmas year-round, with twinkling lights at night and baked goods served fresh every morning. Solvang, a quick 45-minute drive from Santa Barbara, is a truly unique village rife with activities, seasonal festivals, wine-tasting rooms and delectable dining. However, a city with extreme wealth and attraction can also be a perfect storm for prostitution.

If you have been arrested for “prostitution”, it does not mean that you are guilty. It’s important to vigorously fight a “prostitution” charge because a criminal conviction will stay on your record and can adversely affect job and educational opportunities down the road.

As a former Prosecutor for the District Attorney’s Offices in Santa Barbara and San Diego Counties, Sanford Horowitz and his legal team will offer you a free consultation, investigate the evidence against you, and recommend practical steps to achieve the best possible results in your case.

CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE 647(B)

California continues to crack the whip on prostitution, with high-profile arrests making the headlines regularly. The charge is broadly referred to as the act of having sex with another person in exchange for compensation of some kind. In Solvang, you can face criminal charges for soliciting or engaging in prostitution.

You can be charged with a crime of prostitution under California Penal Code 647(b) PC if you:

• Agree to engage in prostitution with someone else
• Intend to actually engage in the act
• Further the commission of the prostitution by taking some other act beyond the agreement

The last element is often in dispute. Simply saying “yes” is not enough. Some other act is required. For example:

• Withdrawing money from an ATM machine
• Telling the other person to undress
• Taking your clothes off
• Driving to a location to meet the person for sex or other lewd behavior

While each of these offenses are different, they all have the same outcome. The prosecutor handling your case will be required to establish that you participated in an agreement to exchange sexual acts for compensation.

For example, if a man is driving along late at night when he sees a woman walking alone on the road. The man passes by a few times and then pulls over in front of the woman. The woman asks the man what he wants. The man indicates that he is looking for sex and is willing to pay the woman for her time. The woman reveals herself be an undercover police officer and the man is arrested. This man could be charged with soliciting a prostitute under California Penal Code Section 647(b) PC.

In another example a man meets a woman at a bar and immediately hits it off with her. When the bar closes, the woman suggests going back to the man’s hotel room, to which he agrees. The man and woman have sex in his hotel room. When they are finished, the woman reveals that she is a prostitute and demands to be paid. The man does not want any trouble so he quietly pays the woman. The man is not criminally liable for prostitution in this scenario as he did not willfully engage in prostitution at the time the act occurred.

SEX

Under California law, when a prostitute and a customer engage in sexual intercourse or lewd acts, both are engaged in an “act of prostitution.” Lewd sexual acts are defined to include touching the genitals, buttocks, or female breast of either the prostitute or client…for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification. This means that for prostitution, sex is broadly defined to include:

• Sexual Intercourse
• Oral Sex
• Anal Sex
• Sexual Touching

COMPENSATION

Compensation does not necessarily mean that money has to exchange hands. Instead, compensation can include anything of value to you, including:

• Drugs
• Stolen Merchandise
• Forged Money
• Important Documents
• Government Welfare Notes

LEGAL PENALTIES FOR PROSTITUTION

California’s “pimping and pandering” laws, Penal Code 266h and Penal Code 266i, solicitation and prostitution are misdemeanors, not felonies. The exact punishment of a defendant depends on a few factors, such as where the violation occurred and whether this is the defendant’s first offense.

• First offense is punishable with any combination of:
  • Maximum of six months in county jail (not a state prison)
  • A maximum fine of $1,000

• A second offense is punishable with:
  • A mandatory minimum of 45 days in county jail (not a state prison)

• Third and subsequent offenses are punishable with any combination of:
  • A mandatory minimum of 90 days in county jail (not a state prison)

Importantly, these penalties can be increased in certain situations. For instance, if you are found guilty of either prostitution or solicitation and the event in question occurred both in a car and within a residential area (defined as within 1,000 feet of a person’s residence), then the court may issue additional penalties, such as suspending your driver’s license for up to 30 days or issuing a restricted license for up to six months. A restricted license means you are legally able to drive to necessary locations, such as work or school, but you are not allowed to drive otherwise.

Additional local governments, such as cities, counties, or towns, may impose additional penalties depending on your situation. For instance, the City of Lompoc may seize your car if you are guilty of either crime while in the car.

The good news is that even if you are convicted of either prostitution or solicitation, you may not have to register as a sex offender in California. This is important because other types of sex crimes automatically trigger the sex offender registration, but neither prostitution nor solicitation do this. However, a court can order any convicted person to register if they deem it necessary, although this is a rare occurrence.

The law applies to both prostitutes and their clients. However, some prostitutes also have middlemen, known generally as “pimps.” A pimp is more likely to be arrested for these violations:

• California’s “pimping and pandering” laws, Penal Code 266h and Penal Code 266i, or
• “Supervising or aiding” a prostitute, Penal Code 653.23 PC6

FIGHTING A PROSTITUTION / SOLICITATION CHARGE

There are defenses available in a prostitution case. Here are some of the more common defenses raised in prostitution cases:

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

In some cases, there may not be sufficient evidence to support a prostitution charge.

POLICE ENTRAPMENT

This happens when law enforcement convince a person to commit a crime that they would not have committed in the absence of inducement. You can raise the defense of entrapment in the context of police “stings” in which undercover officers pose as prostitutes or clients enticing others into soliciting or agreeing to engage in prostitution.

4TH AMENDMENT VIOLATIONS

You did not intend to commit theft or any felony crime before you entered the dwelling or vehicle.

If the police obtained the evidence against you through a search or seizure that violated your 4th Amendment rights, it can result in a judge declaring the evidence they gathered inadmissible in court. This can significantly weaken the prosecution’s case against you and even result in the prosecution dropping the charges entirely.

Keep in mind that many prostitution cases are resolved through the plea bargain process. This involves the defendant pleading guilty in return for a more lenient sentence or reduced charges. Many of these charge reductions allow a defendant to plead guilty to an offense that doesn’t carry the sexual stigma associated with prostitution, helping them avoid the ongoing collateral consequences.

Importantly, negotiating a plea bargain is a complicated legal process, so it is crucial for anyone considering one to retain an experienced Santa Barbara criminal defense lawyer to represent them immediately. Some of the charges to which a prostitution charge can be reduced to include the following:

• California PC 415 – Disturbing the Peace
• California PC 602 – Criminal Trespass
• California PC 647(a) – Lewd Conduct in Public

If you are facing a charge of prostitution, Santa Barbara County defense attorney Sanford Horowitz Criminal Defense, P.C. knows the law and the best strategies for your defense. We have extensive experience representing clients throughout the Santa Barbara area and want to help you understand the charges you are facing as well as what your rights are under the law. If you’d like to schedule a consultation about your case, call 805-452-7214 or fill out this contact form.

prostitution FAQ

Can children under 18 be convicted of prostitution?

Children under the age of 18 cannot be found guilty of prostitution in California. This resulted from passage of California Senate Bill SB 1322, which California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law on September 26, 2016.

Does 647 b PC require sex offender registration?

Neither prostitution nor solicitation requires mandatory sex offender registration under California Penal Code 290 PC.

However, a judge has the discretion to require registration if a criminal offense was “the result of sexual compulsion or for sexual gratification.”

PROSTITUTION DEFENSE ATTORNEYS IN SOLVANG

Don’t wait to contact Sanford Horowitz to ensure that your legal rights are protected.