South Carolina Prostitution Lawyers and Solicitation Defense Attorneys
Solicitation and prostitution charges can be complicated and involve an array of legal issues. Whether you are the person offering a sexual service, or the person soliciting or accepting the sexual service, you can be charged with prostitution and/or solicitation. In order to be charged with this crime, a completed sexual service is not required, and an agreement or offer may be enough for law enforcement to arrest you.
If you’re facing solicitation charges in the state of South Carolina, the Strom Law Firm, LLC can help you make sense of the legal landscape and help you understand the charges against you. The sooner you contact our experienced defense attorneys, the sooner we can begin building your defense so you can put this difficult time behind you and get on with your life.
Understanding South Carolina Law
The laws governing prostitution in our state cover a wide range of activities. While most people think of prostitution as the exchange of sexual acts for compensation, the act of soliciting (offering or requesting) sexual acts for compensation is also illegal. A sexual service does not need to be completed, or even initiated.
The 1976 South Carolina Code of Law governing prostitution was amended in 2017. Under current law in South Carolina, it is unlawful to:
- Procure or solicit for the purpose of prostitution;
- Procure a person to be an inmate for a house of prostitution;
- cause, induce, persuade, or encourage by promise, threat, violence, or by any scheme or device a person to become a prostitute or to remain an inmate of a house of prostitution;
- induce, persuade, or encourage a person to come into or leave this State for the purpose of prostitution or to become an inmate in a house of prostitution;
- receive or give or agree to receive or give any money or thing of value for procuring or attempting to procure a person to become a prostitute or an inmate in a house of prostitution;
- accept or receive knowingly any money or other thing of value without consideration from a prostitute; or
- expose indecently the private person for the purpose of prostitution or another indecency;
- reside in, enter, or remain in a place, structure, building vehicle, trailer, or conveyance for the purpose of lewdness, assignation, or prostitution;
- keep or set up a house of ill fame, brothel, or bawdyhouse;
- receive a person for purposes of lewdness, assignation, or prostitution into a vehicle, conveyance, trailer, place, structure, or building;
- permit a person to remain for the purpose of lewdness, assignation, or prostitution in a vehicle, conveyance, trailer, place, structure, or building;
- direct, take, or transport, offer or agree to take or transport, or aid or assist in transporting a person to a vehicle, conveyance, trailer, place, structure, or building, or to another person with knowledge or having reasonable cause to believe that the purpose of such directing, taking, or transporting is prostitution, lewdness, or assignation;
- lease, rent, or contract to lease or rent a vehicle, conveyance, trailer, place, structure, building, or part thereof believing or having reasonable cause to believe that it is intended to be used for any of the purposes herein prohibited; or
- knowingly aid, abet, or participate in the doing of any of the acts prohibited in this section.
According to the state, any person who violates one of the above provisions is guilty of a misdemeanor.
If you need help understanding the charges against you, contact us for a free consultation to discuss the particulars of your case and how it relates to the laws in our state.
What Are the Penalties For Solicitation or Prostitution?
Currently, the penalties are as follows:
- First Offense: Maximum fine of $200, 30 days in jail, or both.
- Second Offense: Maximum fine of $1,000 fine, 6 months in jail, or both.
- Third Offense, or subsequent: Maximum fine of $3,000, 1 year in jail, or both.
In addition to the penalties imposed by the state, your livelihood, personal life, and reputation are all at stake. Located in Columbia, SC, the attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC have experience handling prostitution charges. Our knowledgeable and experienced team come equipped with a deep understanding of the laws relating to prostitution and have an extensive familiarity with prosecutorial techniques. Our consultations are always free. We can begin discussing the facts of your case with you today.
Does Your Case Involve Entrapment?
Entrapment means that the defendant was not likely to commit prostitution or solicitation, but the conduct or express request of the undercover officer engaged the person in the act. An example could be a man offering a woman a ride, only to find out when the police arrive that she is a prostitute. Depending on the actions and tactics used, this scenario could be considered entrapment. Our law firm has experience with prostitution entrapment. Call for a consultation today and see how we can help with your entrapment defense.
Other defenses that are possible in a prostitution case are:
- Lack of evidence: The state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you are guilty of the crimes you are charged with, and they must provide evidence to meet that burden.
- Insufficient evidence: If the prosecution presents their case and the judge rules that the burden of proof was not met, the judge may dismiss the case.
- Probable cause: If an officer makes an arrest without reasonable grounds, or if the officer acquires evidence unlawfully, the arrest may have been unlawful, or the evidence may not be admissible in court.
Every case is different. Our attorneys are familiar with every possible defense and will work to build a strong and well-supported defense on your behalf.
Have You Been Arrested for Prostitution Loitering?
When a police officer arrests someone for loitering or soliciting sexual services for the purpose of committing prostitution, an officer looks at many key factors to prove someone was intending to commit a criminal act. Those factors can include:
- Possession of condoms
- Possession of a large amount of cash/types of bills
- Possession of cell phones/pagers
- Possession of a ‘client list’
- Location, dress, suspicious activity
Strom Law Firm, LLC can help with your prostitution loitering charges. Call for a free consultation today and we can discuss the facts of your case with you and begin preparing a vigorous defense.
The Strom Law Firm, LLC Is Here To Help
Prostitution and solicitation charges involve delicate matters that are best handled by an attorney. If you have been charged with prostitution or solicitation, your freedom and reputation are at stake. Let the experienced attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC help you.
If you are facing prostitution or solicitation criminal charges, contact the criminal defense attorneys at the
Strom Law Firm, LLC today for a free consultation to discuss the facts of your case. Based in Columbia, SC, our law firm has practiced throughout South Carolina for over 20 years, and our criminal defense attorneys have a strong understanding of the complexities of prostitution/solicitation legislation. Contact us today for help. 803.252.4800.