San Diego Solicitation Lawyer

Were you or a loved one arrested or charged with solicitation in San Diego, CA? You could be facing jail time, financial penalties, and serious damage to your reputation. An experienced San Diego solicitation lawyer at Blair Defense Criminal Lawyers can help you fight the charges and protect your future.

Our lawyers have over ten years of experience handling sensitive criminal cases here in Southern California. We’ve helped countless clients beat their charges and move on with their lives.

It’s never too early to start building your criminal defense strategy. Call our law offices in San Diego, California, at (619) 357-4977 to learn more about how our lawyers can fight for you today.

How Blair Defense Criminal Lawyers Can Help if You Were Arrested for Solicitation in San Diego

How Blair Defense Criminal Lawyers Can Help if You Were Arrested for Solicitation in San Diego

Solicitation is a crime that carries an intense stigma. Even if you’re not convicted, the mere allegation that you offered to pay someone for sex can damage your reputation. At Blair Defense Criminal Lawyers, our experienced team will do everything we can to clear your name and protect your freedom.

Our Criminal Defense Attorney in San Diego, CA have been handling complex cases for more than a decade. We’ve been rated by Super Lawyers and earned a perfect-10 Avvo rating for our exceptional legal advice.

When you hire our law firm, you’ll have a lawyer who will:

  • Provide sound legal guidance throughout the process
  • Conduct a thorough investigation to locate any evidence that might prove your innocence
  • Analyze the prosecution’s evidence to identify any weaknesses in their case
  • Determine whether your constitutional rights were violated at any point
  • Negotiate to have your charges reduced, or your case dropped if possible

We have a proven track record of successfully helping clients beat sex crime charges. To learn more about our skills and experience, call today for a free initial consultation with a San Diego solicitation attorney who can fight to protect your legal rights.

Overview of Solicitation Laws in California

Prostitution and solicitation are illegal in the state of California. Under California Penal Code Section 647(b), it is illegal to solicit prostitution or engage in prostitution. In other words, prostitution is a type of sex crime where either party to the transaction can be punished under the same law.

State prosecutors can convict you of solicitation under Penal Code 647 for:

  • Soliciting lewd acts or sexual intercourse, if
  • An offer to exchange money, property, or other compensation is present

In other words, it’s illegal to offer to pay someone for sex or sexual acts. Prosecutors must also prove that you intended to solicit prostitution. 

However, law enforcement can arrest you on solicitation charges even if the person you solicited isn’t actually a prostitute. In other words, police often use entrapment to catch people soliciting a prostitute. Prosecutors can also convict even if the person you solicited didn’t agree to engage in the act of prostitution. 

What Are the Penalties for Solicitation in California?

Solicitation is a type of disorderly conduct. Typically, the offense is a misdemeanor. Most of the time, you’ll face jail time and financial penalties. However, the severity of the crime also depends on whether you have prior criminal convictions.

Under PC 647, for a first offense solicitation conviction, you can be punished with:

  • Up to six months in county jail
  • A fine of up to $1,000

However, the penalties become more severe with every subsequent prostitution or solicitation conviction.

For a second offense solicitation conviction, you’ll face a mandatory minimum 45-day jail sentence. If you’re convicted a third time, the mandatory minimum jail sentence increases to 90 days.

If the solicitation occurred within 1,000 feet of a residence or within a motor vehicle, you’ll face additional penalties. The judge can suspend your driver’s license for up to 30 days or impose restrictions on your driving privileges for up to six months.

Solicitation is also a crime of moral turpitude. You can face significant collateral consequences if convicted, including:

  • Loss of professional licenses
  • Problems with your immigration status
  • Difficulty finding employment or housing
  • Damage to your personal and professional reputation

However, if convicted, you won’t usually have to register as a sex offender in the state of California.

Our lawyers can help you mitigate the impact of these and other penalties. If you were arrested for solicitation, call Blair Defense Criminal Lawyers today to create an attorney-client relationship with an experienced San Diego solicitation attorney.

What Defenses Can I Raise if I Was Charged With Solicitation in California?

Depending on the circumstances, there are many different defenses that can be raised if you’re arrested on solicitation charges in San Diego.

At Blair Defense Criminal Lawyers, we’ll explore every possible defense strategy. An effective defense strategy may raise any of the following defenses:

  • Entrapment, where law enforcement officials coerce you into committing a criminal offense
  • Lack of intent to engage in sexual activity
  • You did not offer compensation in exchange for sex
  • Lack of evidence to prove every element of your case beyond a reasonable doubt

Solicitation cases often involve mistakes. For example, you may have visited a massage parlor without realizing that it was a known establishment for prostitution.

It may also be possible to have the charges reduced to protect your reputation.

The most effective defense in your case will depend heavily on the facts. You can count on our lawyers to be aggressive and fight to clear your name in any way we can. To learn more about our law firm, call to schedule a free initial consultation with a solicitation defense attorney today.

Contact a San Diego Solicitation Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today

Information on this website is for informational purposes only, but it’s important to act quickly and engage legal representation if you’re charged with solicitation. To learn more about how an experienced San Diego solicitation lawyer can help with your case, call Blair Defense Criminal Lawyers for a free case evaluation today.