Maryland Prostitution Lawyer
Prostitution, solicitation and related crimes such as human trafficking are serious offenses in Maryland. Even requesting the services of a prostitute without taking any further action could result in a large fine and a year of jail time, while more serious offenses such as profiting from prostitution could lead to 10 years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000. With the help of a proven, qualified Maryland prostitution and solicitation defense attorney, you can fight these charges using the strongest legal defenses available, potentially leading to a reduction in your charges or even acquittal.
Prostitution Law Info
Definitions for Prostitution and Related Crimes
Maryland state code ß 11-301 outlines the definitions pertinent to crimes related to prostitution and solicitation. These words are defined below:
- Assignation – Making an engagement or appointment for prostitution, or any act intended to lead to prostitution
- Prostitution – The performance of vaginal intercourse, sexual contact or any other sexual act for hire
- Sexual act – Fellatio, cunnilingus, analingus, anal intercourse, or any act involving sexual penetration or designed for sexual arousal or gratification, according to state code ß 3-301
- Sexually explicit performance – A private or public, videotaped, recorded, photographed or live act in which the subject is partially or completely nude, and is produced with the intention of sexually arousing the viewers or patrons
- Solicit – Commanding, requesting, encouraging, inducing, advising or urging another individual
Although these definitions seem rather concrete, actual acts of alleged prostitution or solicitation often leave much open to interpretation. This is one reason why it’s so crucial to have the assistance of an experienced Maryland prostitution and solicitation lawyer at your side throughout your trial.
Effect of Prostitution Subtitle
According to Maryland state code ß 11-302, any person charged with a crime of prostitution or solicitation can also charged with, prosecuted and sentenced for any other crime falling under its applicable law. For example, charges of rape and/or assault could be combined with a charge of solicitation of prostitution depending on the circumstances of the case.
Human Trafficking
Maryland state code ß 11-303(a) covers the illegality of human trafficking. According to this code, it is illegal for a person to knowingly:
- Take a person to a place for the cause of prostitution
- Place or harbor another individual in a location for the purpose of prostitution
- Encourage, entice, induce or persuade another person to be taken to a location for prostitution
- Receive consideration to place another in a location with the intent of causing them to engage in assignation or prostitution
- Engage in a scheme or repeated course of conduct with the intention of making another person believe that they will be seriously restrained or physically harmed if they refuse to participate in a sexually explicit performance
- Possess, confiscate, remove, conceal or destroy a government ID, immigration document or passport of another individual for the purposes of prostitution
In addition, state code ß 11-303(a)(2) makes it illegal for a parent, guardian or permanent custodian of an individual to consent to detaining or taking that individual somewhere for the purpose of prostitution.
The penalty for violating state code ß 11-303(a) is a misdemeanor conviction, as well as a fine of up to $5,000, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both.
The penalty for violating this same state code if the victim is a minor is a felony conviction, as well as a fine of up to $15,000 and a prison term lasting up to 25 years.
These same penalties apply to individuals who benefit financially from acts described in code ß 11-303(a), as well as those who conspire with, abet or aid other individuals in the perpetration of these acts.
Receiving Earnings of Prostitute
Maryland state criminal code ß 11-304 covers receiving earnings of a prostitute. According to this code, it is illegal to receive or acquire proceeds or money from the earnings of an individual engaged in prostitution, so long as the intention of this act is to:
- Promote a crime of prostitution or solicitation
- Profit from a crime of prostitution or solicitation
- Disguise or conceal the control, ownership, source, location or nature of proceeds of a crime of prostitution or solicitation
The penalty associated with a violation of state code ß 11-304(a) is a misdemeanor, as well as a fine of up to $10,000 and a prison sentence lasting no longer than 10 years. Cases such as these can be extremely complex and convoluted, which is why hiring an experienced, licensed Maryland prostitution and solicitation defense attorney will greatly improve your chances of receiving a favorable outcome in court.
Abduction of Child Under 16
According to Maryland state code ß 11-305, it is illegal to do the following for the purposes of committing prostitution or solicitation:
- Entice, persuade or aid in the persuasion of a person under the age of 16 from his or her home, or from the person’s parent or guardian
- Knowingly harbor or aid in the harboring of a person under 16 years of age who has been enticed or persuaded to do the things described above
According to code ß 11-305(b), the penalty associated with abducting a person under the age of 16 for one of these purposes is a misdemeanor, a fine of up to $5,000 and a prison term not to exceed 10 years.
House of Prostitution
Maryland state code ß 11-306 deals with crimes involving a house of prostitution, as well as many prostitution and solicitation crimes in general. According to this code, it is illegal to knowingly:
- Engage in assignation or prostitution of any kind
- Operate, maintain, occupy, set up or keep a structure, conveyance or building for the purpose of assignation or prostitution
- Allow a structure, conveyance or building under your control to be used for assignation or prostitution
- Allow another individual into a conveyance, structure or building for assignation or prostitution
- Solicit or procure for assignation or prostitution, or offer to do so without actually following through
The penalty for all of these crimes is a misdemeanor, as well as a fine of up to $500 and a jail term of up to 1 year.
Help From our Attorneys
Crimes related to solicitation and prostitution, especially those that involve human trafficking, minors and/or receiving earnings resulting from prostitution, must be taken extremely seriously in Maryland. If you’ve been charged with any of these crimes, your best course of action is to hire the legal defense of a seasoned, veteran Maryland prostitution and solicitation lawyer. He or she will use in-depth knowledge of Maryland law and every available legal resource in order to create a strong defense for your case, one that will result in the best possible outcome.
Locations
Our defense attorneys are located in offices throughout the state of Maryland to best assist clients when preparing to face criminal charges related to prostitution or solicitation. If you are charged with a crime in any of the following areas, you’ll find local defense representation ready to help you get the best possible outcome in your case.
Baltimore
With a metropolitan area of 2.7 million residents as of 2010, Baltimore, Maryland is the largest city in the state, and the 20th largest in the country. A correspondingly high nonviolent crime rate and recent crackdown on online prostitution rings in the city make prostitution and solicitation common but serious charges in Baltimore. It’s essential to hire a professional Maryland defense attorney with experience in the Baltimore legal system if you’re charged with a crime related to prostitution or solicitation.
Bethesda
Located in southern Montgomery County, Bethesda is one of the most highly educated communities in the nation. Crime in Bethesda is significantly below both the Maryland and national averages, at about 2.05 violent crimes and 25.67 property crimes per 1,000 residents. Our Bethesda defense attorneys specialize in defending clients charged with a crime related to prostitution or solicitation.
College Park
College Park is well known in Maryland for being the location of several well-publicized prostitution stings, sometimes leading to more than 80 arrests. Our defense attorneys in College Park have experience defending clients caught in police stings, especially those related to prostitution and solicitation.
Columbia
Columbia, Maryland is home to 99,615 residents, which makes it the second most populated community in the state behind only Baltimore. Our Maryland defense attorneys in Columbia can help you fight prostitution or solicitation charges, both serious under Maryland state law. Defense attorneys in Columbia have experience in the local court system, primarily the Howard County District Court.
Montgomery County
Prostitution and solicitation defense attorneys in Montgomery County can help you fight charges that can have a detrimental impact on your life well beyond possible fines and imprisonment. Our defense team is familiar with Montgomery County District Court where most charges are filed in the local area.
Prince George’s County
Prince George’s County has recently begun a crackdown on prostitution, resulting in a large amount of arrests. Between August 2010 and January 2011, an average of 50 people per month were charged with prostitution or solicitation in Prince George’s County. The crackdown has continued as 60 people were arrested as recently as May 2012. Our defense attorneys in Prince George’s County and towns like College Park, Hyattsville and College Park have experience defending clients charged with prostitution or solicitation.
Rockville
Along with being the third largest city in Maryland, Rockville is also host to frequent prostitution stings that can result in serious criminal charges. A Rockville prostitution lawyer can protect you in the local legal system if you have been charged with a crime related to prostitution or solicitation.