Defined under California Penal Code section b , any person who solicits another for an act of prostitution is guilty of solicitation, whereas any person who agrees to engage or engages in any lewd act for money or other considerations is guilty of prostitution.
However, that does not make it a minor offense given that it is still considered a crime involving moral turpitude. Furthermore, the embarrassing stigma attached to a solicitation or prostitution conviction can affect your reputation and for some, citizenship eligibility.
Solicitation specifically is a unique criminal offense in that it does not require a specific intent. In other words, even if you did not possess any means to pay or compensate a prostitute, engaging in the transactional discussion alone could result in your being arrested and charged. More importantly, PC b is not considered a sex offender registrable offense under PC Although a first offense solicitation or prostitution charge does not carry mandatory jail time, PC b is considered priorable.
Therefore, you would face mandatory jail time if you were a repeat offender. The following are some of the penalties you face if charged with solicitation or prostitution in Los Angeles County:. If you have a prior PC b conviction, you face the additional penalties:. An acquittal following a favorable jury verdict would prevent a prostitution or solicitation conviction from appearing on your record.
However, your prostitution lawyer could negotiate several plea agreements which would also keep your record free of a PC b conviction. In Los Angeles, reductions to lesser charges such as Disturbing the Peace, Trespassing, or Loitering are common lower level offenses used to plead down solicitation and prostitution charges. In some cases and depending on which court your case is out of, your prostitution lawyer could negotiate a dismissal of your PC b charge by way of deferred entry of judgment DEJ.
