The difference between an escort and a prostitute may seem simple on the surface. An escort is a person who’s paid to be a date or companion at a social event. Agencies book escorts or they can be booked via various online sites. It is legal to hire an escort in California as long as said escort has a valid permit or license. However, these licenses are hard to come by.
Prostitutes, on the other hand, are people who exchange sexual acts for money. While there seems to be a clear line between the two, the law is not always that cut and dry. Read on to learn more about the potential sex crimes that could accompany charges of prostitution.
There can be a thin line between an escort and a prostitute
Yes, it’s legal to pay someone to be your date. However, if you later pay an escort to have sex with you then you’ve crossed a line into prostitution. This is a crime in California. Sometimes known as solicitation for prostitution, it’s illegal to either act as a prostitute or to ask or induce anyone else to do so.
If you are charged with solicitation of a prostitute you’ll be charged with a misdemeanor that could result in as much as six months in jail. Note that it’s not uncommon for a woman to advertise your services as an escort to avoid being arrested. Law enforcement is aware of this. If you’ve been charged with anything related to prostitution or escorting, it’s time to contact a criminal defense attorney. Chambers Law Firm can be reached at 714-760-4088.
Police stings can catch you red-handed
In most cases, when an escort is arrested for prostitution it’s the result of a police sting. This is when law enforcement uses internet ads that promote sexual services to find people acting as prostitutes while posing as escorts. In most cases, the officer will ask what services are available and can then arrest the escort if they offer sexual services.
Note that it’s common for an escort to be suspicious of a supposed client who wants information of such a specific nature. As a result, they may not say anything that would incriminate them. However, if that escort doesn’t have a license then they can still be charged for escort without a license. This is often charged in the case where the prosecution doesn’t have enough evidence for a prostitution charge. A conviction for being an escort without a license is limited to a fine of $1,000 and / or up to six months in jail. Depending on a person’s criminal history, it’s likely that the charge can be dismissed or significantly reduced to include no jail time.
Have you been charged with a sex crime? Contact an experienced attorney
If you’ve been charged with any type of sex crime, whether solicitation, prostitution, escort without a license, or something else entirely, you need an experienced attorney. Chambers Law Firm is here to help. Contact us today at 714-760-4088 to speak to an experienced lawyer.
