Lansing Prostitution and Solicitation Lawyer

The state of Michigan, the city of Lansing in particular, takes crimes of prostitution and solicitation very seriously. In addition to the threat of fines and jail time, those charged with prostitution and solicitation can face serious damage to their reputations. After all, you will have to report any convictions on a job application, which can make it difficult for you to get and maintain work, and you may face personal embarrassment from your family and friends.

The best way avoid charges of prostitution and solicitation is to be knowledgeable of the law and have a great sex defense attorney at your side (like Grabel & Associates). Learn more about what it means to be charged with either of these offenses and what you can do to protect your rights.

Prostitution and Solicitation Defined

You probably have a good idea about what constitutes prostitution and solicitation. In Lansing, anyone found to be trading sexual acts for money can be charged with prostitution, and anyone found asking another person for sex in exchange for money can be charged with solicitation.

The Michigan Penal Code Act 328 of 1931 outlines exactly what prostitution and solicitation are and how all courts are to interpret them. In Section 750.449, a person (16 years or older) who admits or offers to receive another person into a certain place, be it a structure, building, house, or vehicle, for the purpose of prostitution, lewdness, or assignation can be charged. The section also states that any person who knowingly allows another person to stay in a place, structure, building, house, or vehicle for the purpose of prostitution can also be charged.

Solicitation follows a different section. According to Section 750.448, any person 16 or older who invites, solicits or accosts another person in a public location (this can also include in or from a building or vehicle) by word, gesture, or any other way to commit prostitution or to do any other lewd or immoral act can be charged of solicitation.

In layman's terms, if a woman sitting at a Lansing bar and propositions (sex in exchange for money) the man sitting next to her, she is committing prostitution. She could also be charged if she is sitting in a car and propositions a passerby. If the man at aforementioned bar asked the woman next to him for sex in exchange for money, this would be considered solicitation. Note that gender does not play a role here. Both sexes can be charged with either crime.

Both of these crimes are considered misdemeanors. In most cases, you may have to spend up to 93 days in jail and pay a fine of $500. If you already have a previous prostitution conviction, you may have a more difficult battle. For those with one previous conviction, you may spend a full year in jail and pay a $1,000 fine. If you have two or more convictions, you could be looking at a felony charge, with two years in prison and a $2,000 fine.

Even if this is your first charge, it is important that you have the right legal team to back you up. Grabel & Associates will be right there every step of the way to make sure that you are not alone in your fight.

Other Similar Charges

There are a few other similar charges related to prostitution and solicitation that you should be aware of. If you have questions about either of these charges, speak to an attorney at Grabel & Associates. We can help you better understand the law.

Transporting a person for prostitution (750.459): You will be charged with a felony if you are found to be transporting a person within, through or into Michigan for the purpose of prostitution or in an effort to induce, entice, or compel said person into becoming a prostitute. You can also be charged if you knowingly assist in the transporting, even if you are not behind the wheel. For this, you could face 20 years in prison.

Leasing or maintaining a house for prostitution (750.454 and 750.452): Call it a house of ill fame or a bawdy house (both are terms used in the law), but either way, it is illegal to knowingly lease a residence to someone for the purposes of prostitution or lewdness. The law considers this a misdemeanor, and you could face six months in jail and/or a fine of $750.

Operating a house of ill fame is considered to be maintaining the house. This is a felony, and you can serve up to five years in jail and/or have to pay a fine of up to $2,500.

Contact Grabel & Associates

Facing a prostitution or solicitation charge is a serious offense, and it can damage your reputation for years to come. You do not have to fight these charges alone. Our attorneys at Grabel & Associates understand these cases and will comb through every aspect in order to build the very best defense. With more than 10 years of serving Lansing, Michigan, Grabel & Associates will walk you through this complicated process and provide you with the best defense you could ever need.

Contact Grabel & Associates now at 1-800-342-7896 or online. Get started on your case and take back your freedom.