Sex crimes involving prostitution apply to several different types of conduct, from operating a brothel to soliciting a person for prostitution. Regardless, criminal charges involving prostitution are taken extremely seriously and can have serious penalties. For instance, when the person involved in a promoting prostitution case is a minor, the charge becomes a third-degree felony, with a five-year maximum sentence. At Patituce & Associates, LLC, our Cleveland prostitution attorneys defend clients who are facing such charges.
If you or a family member need assistance, call our Cleveland prostitution lawyers today at(440) 471-7784 for a free consultation. We have 70+ years of experience and are ready to help.
What Sex Crimes Are Considered Prostitution in Ohio?
Under Ohio law, sex workers and those who engage in sexual conduct with them are subject to penalties under several offenses in the Ohio Revised Code (ORC). In addition to the legal consequences of these charges, sex crimes typically carry severe social stigmas, which may affect a person’s relationships and career. Some crimes related to prostitution in Ohio include:
Prostitution (ORC § 2907.25)
Prostitution is defined in Ohio as engaging in sexual activity for hire. This means offering or agreeing to engage in sexual conduct with another person in exchange for money or something else of value.
Solicitation (ORC § 2907.24)
Solicitation involves engaging or attempting to engage the services of a prostitute. Simply offering money or anything of value for sexual conduct is enough to be charged with this offense.
Loitering to Engage in Solicitation (ORC § 2907.241)
This includes lingering or wandering in public places with the intent to solicit or engage in sexual conduct for hire.
Human Trafficking (ORC § 2905.32)
While a broader criminal category, human trafficking that involves compelling or coercing individuals into engaging in sexual activities for hire can also fall under prostitution-related offenses.
Gross Sexual Imposition (ORC §2017.05)
Gross sexual imposition is a legal term used to describe a sexual offense that typically involves sexual contact without consent or with someone who is unable to provide consent. It is a serious criminal charge that falls under the category of sexual assault, but it is distinct from rape. Gross sexual imposition is typically classified as a felony, and it can result in substantial prison time, fines, and mandatory registration as a sex offender.
Charges Involving Minors
Engaging in any prostitution-related activity with a minor is treated even more severely under Ohio law, often resulting in felony charges.
If you have been charged as an alleged offender in a sex offense, we encourage you to reach out to our lawyers for information regarding what options are available to you. Likewise, if you have been charged with solicitation, there exist several legal referral services that can help defend your rights.
Don’t hesitate to contact Patituce & Associates. Our dedicated and experienced sex crime defense team is ready to provide personalized and assertive legal representation.
What Is Compelling Prostitution (O.R.C. 2907.21)?
Compelling prostitution, or procuring prostitution, is charged when Cleveland prosecutors believe that they can prove that you compelled or facilitated another person to engage in sex for hire. The penalties for compelling prostitution are especially serious when the person involved is a minor or is someone you believed to be a minor.
Under the statute, the following acts are prohibited:
- Compelling someone with the use of force, intimidation, fear, or duress to participate in sex for hire
- Facilitating a minor to engage in sex for hire
- Paying or agreeing to pay a minor to participate in sex for hire
- Paying or agreeing to pay a minor after they participated in sex for hire
- Allowing a minor as their parent, guardian, or other authority in control to engage in sex for hire
As a base charge, compelling prostitution is a third-degree felony with a sentence of up to five years. When minors between the ages of 16 and 18 are involved, it is a second-degree felony with a sentence of up to 8 years. When the minor is under the age of 16, it will be a first-degree felony with penalties of up to 10 years in prison.
What Is Promoting Prostitution (O.R.C. 2907.22)?
Individuals who knowingly engage in any of the following may be charged with promoting prostitution:
- Establish, maintain, operate, manage, supervise, control, or have an interest in a brothel
- Transport another person, or cause them to be transported, across state or county boundaries in order to facilitate the other person participating in sexual activity for hire
- Supervise, manage, or control the activities of a prostitute in engaging in sexual activity for hire
- Induce or procure another person to engage in sexual activity for hire
Promoting prostitution is a fourth-degree felony, carrying a sentence of up to 18 months in prison. If any prostitutes involved in the activities related to the charge are minors, whether or not you know their age, then promoting prostitution will be charged as a third-degree felony; you may face up to 5 years in prison. With the penalties for this crime are serious, you have to bring in the most effective legal defense available.
Enticement or Solicitation to Patronize a Prostitute; Procurement of a Prostitute for Another (O.R.C. 2907.23)
Enticement or solicitation to patronize a prostitute; procurement of a prostitute for another covers several types of conduct and applies penalties according to the specific conduct in your case.
- Procuring a prostitute for another is a first-degree misdemeanor
- Maximum sentence of 180 days
- If the prostitute is 16 or 17 years old, the charge is a fifth-degree felony
- 6-12 months in prison
- If the prostitute is under the age of 16, procuring is charged as a fourth-degree felony
- Maximum sentence of 18 months
Where age is an issue, it is not a defense that you didn’t know the person was underage. Given the gravity of these accusations, it’s crucial to consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney promptly. A seasoned legal professional can provide guidance, challenge evidence, and craft a robust defense strategy tailored to the specifics of the case. If faced with charges involving minors, seeking legal representation is not only advisable but essential.
Contact Our Cleveland Prostitution Defense Lawyers Today
All of the above are extremely serious charges with penalties that can not only land you in jail, but can also damage your career and personal relationships. Accusations can arise from misunderstandings, false allegations, or other complicated circumstances. Anyone facing such charges should consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney well-versed in sex crimes to ensure their rights are protected and to develop an appropriate legal strategy.
We believe that no one facing the potential of strict penalties, including jail time and other life-changing consequences, should go without legal defense to ensure that their rights are exercised fairly and constitutionally. Reach out to a Cleveland criminal defense lawyer today to learn about your options with the help of Patituce & Associates.
Our Cleveland prostitution defense lawyers know how to defend clients against solicitation and prostitution charges, so call (440) 471-7784 for a free consultation.
Patituce & Associates, LCC – Cleveland Office
600 Superior Avenue East,
Suite 1358
Cleveland, OH 44114