Soliciting others for sexual acts for hire or prostitution is often considered a victimless crime. However, solicitation or assignation remains illegal under state law, and the penalties can be harsh. A Deerfield Beach solicitation Lawyer can be an instrumental part of building a valid defense to solicitation and other related criminal charges.
A criminal conviction for solicitation can impact your life beyond the penalties outlined in the law. The social impact of a solicitation conviction also can be significant and adversely affect everything from your reputation to your business. As a criminal Attorney may advise, a conviction could cause you to lose your job, become ineligible for some careers, and have a more challenging time returning to school or bettering your financial situation in any way.
Solicitation Offenses in Deerfield Beach
Under Fla. Stat. § 796.07, solicitation is referred to as assignation. The legal definition of assignation under state criminal law is making an appointment or other arrangements to engage in prostitution or lewdness, which includes any obscene or indecent activities. Assignation also occurs when individuals take any actions that further or carry out an act of prostitution or lewdness.
This statute also defines some specific acts concerning assignation that are illegal. These acts go beyond merely committing, offering to commit, or engaging in assignation, all of which are also unlawful actions. Other prohibited activities include:
- Establishing, owning, or keeping any place or vehicle for assignation
- Receiving, offering or agreeing to receive, or allowing anyone to remain in a place or vehicle for assignation
- Directing, taking, or transporting others, or offering or agreeing to take others to a place while knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that it is for assignation
- Soliciting or inducing others to commit assignation
Living in, entering, or remaining in any place or vehicle for assignation also is a crime under this section, as is aiding, abetting, or participating in any of these actions. Finally, purchasing the services of any person involved in prostitution also is an illegal act under state law. Due to the full range of activities that may constitute assignation, individuals facing these charges may benefit from consulting a solicitation Lawyer in Deerfield Beach for advice.
Potential Sanctions for Deerfield Beach Solicitation
The potential penalties that individuals can face for a solicitation conviction are identical to those for a prostitution or lewdness conviction. As a result, a person who attempts to obtain prostitution services can receive the same punishment as a person who offers prostitution services to others. These penalties increase in severity as individuals accumulate additional convictions for these offenses over time.
As a result, although a first-time solicitation offense is a second-degree Misdemeanor charge, a third or subsequent offense is a third-degree Felony charge. However, in the case of soliciting or inducing others to engage in assignation, a third or subsequent offense can result in second-degree Felony charges. If solicitation involves a minor, then individuals even can face human trafficking charges. Therefore, getting the advice of a Deerfield Beach solicitation Lawyer when facing any level of solicitation charges may be wise.
A criminal conviction for solicitation, depending on the charge, can result in anywhere from 60 days in jail to 15 years in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten days. Likewise, fines can range from $500 to $5,000. Other potential sanctions may include community service hours, probation, completion of educational programs, and vehicle immobilization or impoundment.
Contact a Deerfield Beach Solicitation Attorney for Advice
Even if your solicitation is unsuccessful and no sexual activity occurs, you still can face solicitation charges. As a result, police and prosecutors may interpret your innocent actions quite differently. As various defenses may be available in your solicitation case, a Deerfield Beach solicitation Lawyer can help you determine which defenses are most likely to be effective in your case.
A solicitation conviction may be detrimental to all areas of your life, both personally and professionally. The damages that even allegations of solicitation can cause may prevent you from working in your field any longer. Getting the advice of legal counsel in this situation can be crucial to avoiding or minimizing the risk of these unwanted and unanticipated consequences.
