Prostitution charges in Tempe are serious. Convictions, even for a first offense, can wreak havoc on your life. Tarnished reputations, lost freedom, costly fines, and relationship upheaval are all potential penalties. With the stakes this high, you need an experienced Tempe sex crimes lawyer on your side.
Reach out to a Tempe criminal defense lawyer from Suzuki Law Offices as soon as possible after your arrest. We will develop a thorough, individualized strategy to protect your rights and work to have your charges reduced or dismissed entirely.
Arizona’s Prostitution Laws
Arizona’s prostitution laws make it illegal to “knowingly engage in prostitution.” Specifically, it is against the law to take part in, agree to, or offer to engage in sexual conduct with another person for money or other compensation. Sexual conduct, under Tempe criminal defense lawyer, refers to sexual contact, sexual intercourse, oral sexual contact, or sadomasochistic abuse, terms defined in additional laws:
For example, you could invite charges if you:
- Offer to pay someone $50–or any amount–for performing a sex act on them
- Agree to engage in a sex act for drugs or alcohol
- Have sexual intercourse with a member of law enforcement to avoid charges for an alleged crime
State law does not make solicitation of prostitution a crime but allows for cities and towns to develop their own ordinances prohibiting solicitation. To “solicit” prostitution is to invite or advertise another party to engage in sexual conduct. Tempe Ordinance 22-1 establishes solicitation as illegal.
Penalties for a Prostitution Conviction
Violating Arizona’s prostitution law is a class 1 misdemeanor. Penalties are serious, even for first offenses. However, if you have prior convictions, the consequences increase in severity.
Convictions come with a potential maximum fine of $2,500 and mandatory jail time:
- First offense: 15 consecutive days
- Second offense: 30 consecutive days, at minimum
- Third offense: 60 consecutive days
Fines often come with surcharges payable by the offender. Upon release from jail, there is the possibility of a period of probation. Probation periods can extend to up to three years after completing the mandatory jail sentence.
Fourth (and Additional) Offenses
If you have three prior convictions, any additional convictions count as Class 5 felonies, which can bring a penalty of up to four years in state prison. Further, a fourth conviction makes you ineligible for probation until you have served 180 consecutive days in jail. Along with this considerable jail time, Arizona imposes substantial fines for felony offenses, up to $150,000.
Collateral Damage
While legal penalties for a prostitution conviction are of great concern, non-legal, collateral damage is also problematic. For example, if potential employers ask you to submit to a background check, they may be less likely to hire you if they see the conviction. Landlords may not be comfortable renting you a house or an apartment.
Relationships with friends and family can be affected, as can romantic relationships. Unfortunately, prostitution convictions come with a “stigma.” These harsh consequences may come outside the courtroom but reach deep into your personal life.
Collateral Consequences for Felony Convictions
If convicted of a class 5 felony because of prior prostitution convictions, you face the possibility of even more collateral damages. Felony convictions in Arizona can:
- Prevent you from serving on a jury
- Interfere with voting rights
- Prohibit you from owning or possessing a firearm unless your civil rights are restored
- Prevent you from acquiring professional licenses or security clearance required for specific professions of government-related jobs
How a Prostitution Defense Lawyer in Tempe Can Help
When charged with prostitution, you need a Tempe prostitution defense attorney with a comprehensive understanding of Arizona law and Tempe ordinances, and your civil rights. You need a legal team with the resources to investigate your situation thoroughly, the skill to design a strong defense, and the ability to navigate the criminal justice system effectively. Suzuki Law Firm more than meets these criteria and provides you with superior representation.
Investigating Your Alleged Crime
Your attorney will dive deep into the circumstances of your arrest. In some cases, law enforcement makes mistakes. Your alleged behavior may not meet the threshold for prostitution charges.
Or, during your arrest and booking, law enforcement may have violated your civil rights by failing to read you your rights or coercing you into making incriminating statements. Your prostitution defense attorney in Tempe will fight to expose any violations. Should your case continue, your attorney will continue to protect your rights through all court proceedings.
Navigating the Court System
Every attorney on our team has served as a prosecutor. This means we need to know how the prosecution works, anticipate their moves, and design a strategy to bring you the most favorable outcome possible. We also put our experience to use when negotiating for lesser charges or penalties or to have charges dismissed.
Building Your Defense
Thanks to our collective prosecutorial experience and our years serving as a criminal defense team, we are especially capable of designing strong defenses. No two cases are alike, and we recognize that. We think creatively to construct a defense that serves your specific circumstances.
Often, defenses for prostitution charges include:
- Entrapment: Law enforcement conducts a “sting” or uses some other tactic to trick you into committing a crime, and if that trick is the only reason you committed the alleged crime, entrapment is a viable defense
- False Accusation: A jealous ex or some other person who has a grudge against you may have made a false allegation simply to mess up your life. In these cases, we search far and wide for evidence to clear your name
- Sex-Traffic Victim: You may be under the control of someone forcing you into prostitution. If you are being trafficked, you are the victim, not the criminal
Dedicated Legal Professionals on Your Side
The team at Suzuki Law Offices is ready to give you reliable, strategic, effective legal representation. We understand the stress you are under and will never leave you guessing about the status of your case.
Partner with a skilled Tempe prostitution defense lawyer from our team knowing you will get the high-powered representation and individual attention you deserve.
Call or text (602) 682-5270 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form