Shreveport, Louisiana Criminal Defense: Crimes Related to Prostitution
Despite political efforts to change the law, prostitution is still a crime in Louisiana. In layperson sense, prostitution is "sex for money." The crime can be charged against the person offering sex and those offering to pay for it. More specifically, prostitution is criminalized by La. Rev. Stat., §14:82, where prostitution is defined as:
(1) The practice by a person of indiscriminate sexual intercourse with others for compensation.
(2) The solicitation by one person or another with the intent to engage in indiscriminate sexual intercourse with the latter for compensation.
All types of sexual activity are covered by the statute, and prostitution can be charged even if the sexual act has not been consummated. If you have been arrested for prostitution, you might benefit from a legal consultation with the experienced Shreveport criminal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Philip B. Adams. Let's discuss the facts of your case and potential criminal defenses. Use our "Contact Us" page.
Penalties
Generally, a first-time prostitution charge is a misdemeanor crime which becomes a felony charge for subsequent offenses. The potential penalties are:
First offense -- potential jail term of six months and a fine of $500
Second offense -- potential jail term of 2 years and a fine of $250 to $2,000
Third and subsequent offenses -- potential jail term of 4 years and a fine of $500 to $4,000
Potential penalties are substantially higher if there are any aggravating factors. Examples of aggravating factors include circumstances involving a prostitute under the age of 18, under the age of 14, etc. For soliciting a prostitute under the age of 18 (but not less than 14), the crime is a felony with a potential sentence of 15 to 50 years in prison and a potential fine of $50,000. If the prostitute is under the age of 14, the possible prison term is from 25 to 50 years, and the fine could be as high as $75,000.
Related crimes
There are a large number of crimes related to the basic crime of prostitution. These include the crime of allowing, aiding, and abetting prostitution on your property, running a house of prostitution, being a "pimp," online prostitution, and more.
Potential criminal defenses
If you are charged with a crime in Louisiana, the prosecuting attorneys -- that is, the government -- have the burden of proving your guilt. You are innocent until proven guilty. The standard of proof is "beyond a reasonable doubt." That is a tough standard to meet. As a consequence, any criminal defense strategy aims to reduce the chances of the prosecuting attorneys meeting that standard. Tactics include seeking to exclude evidence and witnesses for constitutional and procedural violations. There may be specific defenses like alibi, mistake, and sexual activity by mutual consent without payment (that is, no payment was negotiated, requested, or exchanged). Retaliation and/or knowingly false charges might be a defense in some cases. Police entrapment is also a common defense in prostitution cases. As always, while the criminal defense is being prepared, skilled Louisiana criminal defense attorneys are open to negotiating favorable plea bargain arrangements.
Contact A Louisiana Criminal Defense Attorney Today
For more information, contact the Law Offices of Philip B. Adams today. We are relentless and aggressive Louisiana criminal defense lawyers. Complete our "Contact Us" page here. You may significantly benefit by having an attorney with legal competence and experience assist you with your Louisiana criminal case. We have offices in Shreveport and handle criminal defense cases throughout all of Louisiana.