Undercover Methods Used:

Sting Operations - Wearing provocative clothing and posing as prostitutes, police officers use this roadside method to lure would-be customers off the street and into the bedroom, only to be arrested for prostitution.

Prostitution Ring Breakups - Using the reverse tactic from sting operations, police officers pose as customers seeking to find sex for hire. Once inside the supposed massage parlors or with the personal escort, the police will make arrests upon determining the falsehood of the organization.

Sex Online - Websites galore offer services for companionship as a cover up for prostitution. Acting as potential customers for these Internet-based sites, law enforcement agencies are able to distinguish the legal from the illegal and make prostitution arrests accordingly. In Los Angeles, law enforcement is especially targeting online personal profile ads, such as those seen on Craig's List.org. With increasing Internet usage, sex-oriented websites are under close scrutiny for suspicious illegal sexual activities.

Stephen G. Rodriguez is an experienced Los Angeles Prostitution Attorney. If you have been charged with Prostitution in Los Angeles, and need a criminal defense attorney, call Stephen G. Rodriguez at (213) 223-2173.

Prostitution Defenses

There are many defenses available to the crimes of prostitution, solicitation, pandering, and loitering. Each case is different and defenses to these crimes depend on what type of evidence is available. The prosecutor must prove at least one the following elements existed to successfully obtain a prostitution conviction:

• Solicit (strongly urge or entice) for an act of prostitution
• Agree to engage in an act of prostitution
• Engage in an act of prostitution

The prosecution will attempt to prove there was an agreement to engage in an act of prostitution. This is usually achieved by means of a recording device during conversations between an undercover cop and the accused. If a record of the conversation cannot be produced, the agreement may be difficult to prove. If the accused has no money on them, the prosecution may have a difficult time proving the specific intent to engage in an act of prostitution.

Stephen G. Rodriguez is an experienced Los Angeles Prostitution Attorney. If you have been charged with Prostitution in Los Angeles, and need a criminal defense attorney, call Stephen G. Rodriguez at (213) 223-2173.

California Penalties for Solicitation or Prostitution:

• Community Service
• County Jail
• Probation
• AIDS Testing
• Fines
• Counseling (court-enforced)
• Cal Trans (physical labor)
• Loss of employment for those with licenses or government / security clearances
• Jail Enhancements: Additional jail time for defendants with prior related criminal charges

Stephen G. Rodriguez is an experienced Los Angeles Prostitution Attorney. If you have been charged with Prostitution in Los Angeles, and need a criminal defense attorney, call Stephen G. Rodriguez at (213) 223-2173.

California Law Definitions

Solicitation - Also known as Solicitation for Prostitution, the act of directing or asking someone to exchange money for sexual activity is defined under Section 647(b) of the California Penal Code.

Prostitution - The act of exchanging money for sexual activity is known as Prostitution and defined under Section 653.20(a) of the California Penal Code.

Pandering - The crime committed by a "pimp", Pandering is defined under Section 266(i) of the California Penal Code and is best described as:

• Solicitation of customers for prostitution services
• Recruitment of prostitutes for hire

Loitering - Defined under Section 653.20(c) of the California Penal Code, Loitering means to linger without a lawful reason for the purpose of committing a crime or engaging in prostitution. Loitering is a "non-priorable" and lesser charge crime which means it is not subject to Jail Enhancement Penalties.

Stephen G. Rodriguez is an experienced Los Angeles Prostitution Attorney. If you have been charged with Prostitution in Los Angeles, and need a criminal defense attorney, call Stephen G. Rodriguez at (213) 223-2173.