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    Prostitution Lawyers in Pennsylvania

    A Pennsylvania Prostitution Attorney Can Help if You Were Charged with Soliciting a Prostitute, Pimping, Patronizing or Prostitution/Hooking.

    We will fight for your reputation, your rights and your charges to be dropped or significantly reduced.

    The act of prostitution may seem simple: one person exchanges sexual acts to another for money. However, the law in Pennsylvania is much more complicated and the punishments can be severe if you are convicted.

    It is illegal to perform sexual acts for monetary gain. It is also illegal to hire a prostitute, as well as to promote prostitution for money. No matter what part of the process you are involved in, you will suffer severe penalties if you are convicted of a prostitution charge.

    Not only are the penalties for a prostitution offense harsh, but you also face the judgment of your family, friends, co-workers and your community. You may be sent to jail, which could cause you to lose your job and put added stress on your family. Your reputation is on the line and so is your career and future.

    An arrest does not necessarily mean that you will be convicted.

    Attorney David Shrager provides compassionate counsel that is free from judgment, reproof or apathy. He will listen to your side of the story with understanding and empathy. His law firm will aggressively seek action to prove your innocence and have your charges dropped or significantly reduced.

    Prostitution Offenses in Pennsylvania Defined

    Prostitution is an offense that occurs frequently and happens everywhere and is actually legal in some countries and states.

    Where it is illegal, however, police officers often set up sting operations to catch prostitutes, solicitors of prostitutes and promotors of prostitutes. It is important to understand the difference – and the penalties for each of these three crimes.

    Prostitution Charges

    In Pennsylvania, under PA Code Title 18 §5902, the crime of prostitution is not only the selling of sex for money but it is also prostitution is broken down into other crimes that fall under prostitution.

    A person is guilty of prostitution if he or she:

    1. is an inmate of a house of prostitution or otherwise engages in sexual activity as a business; or
    2. loiters in or within view of any public place for the purpose of being hired to engage in sexual activity.

    Penalties can be harsh – a first offense can mean up to one year in prison and a $2,500 fine. Also, if you are aware that you are HIV positive or have AIDS, you will receive stricter punishment – a third degree felony, punishable by up to 7 years in prison.

    See below for more information on penalties of prostitution in Pennsylvania.

    Promoting Prostitution Charges (Pimping and Pandering)

    It is also illegal to promote prostitution, which consists of the following:

    • owning, controlling, managing, supervising or otherwise keeping, alone or in association with others, a house of prostitution or a prostitution business;
    • procuring an inmate for a house of prostitution or a place in a house of prostitution for one who would be an inmate;
    • encouraging, inducing, or otherwise intentionally causing another to become or remain a prostitute;
    • soliciting a person to patronize a prostitute;
    • procuring a prostitute for a patron;
    • transporting a person into or within this Commonwealth with intent to promote the engaging in prostitution by that person, or procuring or paying for transportation with that intent;
    • leasing or otherwise permitting a place controlled by the actor, alone or in association with others, to be regularly used for prostitution or the promotion of prostitution, or failure to make reasonable effort to abate such use by ejecting the tenant, notifying law enforcement authorities, or other legally available means; or
    • soliciting, receiving, or agreeing to receive any benefit for doing or agreeing to do anything forbidden by this subsection.

    If you are caught promoting prostitution of a minor, an individual under the age of eighteen, you will be charged with even stricter penalties.

    Patronizing a Prostitute Charges

    And lastly, it is a crime to patronize a prostitute. More specifically, it is illegal to:

    • A person commits the offense of patronizing prostitutes if that person hires a prostitute or any other person to engage in sexual activity with him or her or if that person enters or remains in a house of prostitution for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.

    For example, if you hire an undercover officer to engage in sexual conduct and were arrested before anything illicit happens, it is still considered patronizing.

    Punishment for Prostitution in Pennsylvania

    All acts of prostitution are punished very harshly in Pennsylvania. The punishment for a prostitute and the person patronizing a prostitute carry the same penalty. If you are arrested and charged with prostitution, or patronizing a prostitute, you could be charged with the following:

    For a first or second offense, you will be charged with a third degree misdemeanor, which carries the penalty of:

    • Up to one year in prison
    • Up to $2,500 in fines

    For a third offense, you will be charged with a second degree misdemeanor, which carries a penalty of:

    • Up to two years in prison
    • Up to $5,000 in fines

    For a fourth or subsequent offense, you will be charged with a first degree misdemeanor, which carries a penalty of:

    • Up to five years in prison
    • Up to $10,000 in fines

    If it can be proven that you knew that you were infected with HIV or AIDS at the time of your arrest, you will be charged with a third degree felony – even for a first offense. A third degree felony carries a penalty of:

    • Up to seven years in prison
    • Up to $15,000 in fines

    It is important to note that if you are caught patronizing prostitutes more than once, your name will be published in the local newspaper at your own personal expense. This is likely to cause you great shame, humiliation, and public embarrassment in addition to the criminal penalties you are already facing.

    Punishment for Promoting Prostitution in Pennsylvania

    The punishment for promotion of prostitution varies depending on the circumstances of the offense. If you are charged with promoting prostitution, you will be charged with either a felony of the third degree or a misdemeanor of the second degree.

    If you are found guilty of owning or controlling a prostitution house or business, procuring an inmate for a house of prostitution, encouraging (or otherwise intentionally causing) another to engage in prostitution, promoting your spouse, child or another person in your care to engage in prostitution, or knowingly promoting prostitution of another known to be infected with HIV/AIDS, the punishment is a felony of the third degree.

    The penalties for which include:

    • Up to seven years in prison
    • Up to $15,000 in fines

    All other promotion of prostitution offenses are a misdemeanor of the second degree. The penalties for which include:

    • Up to two years in prison
    • Up to $5,000 in fines

    A Pennsylvania Prostitution Lawyer Can Fight Your Charges

    Prostitution charges, regardless of the circumstances, can be an embarrassing affair. It can mean a misdemeanor or felony on your permanent record, it can affect your current and future employment, and negatively impact your family and social life.

    Don’t be scared; be prepared! Hiring an experienced criminal lawyer can make all the difference in your case and your future.

    At Shrager Defense Attorneys, we have been very successful in winning sex crime cases in Pennsylvania. we treat every case as our most important case and will work aggressively to help you have your charges reduced or withdrawn.

    If you or your loved one has been arrested or is in jail for a prostitution charge, please call or text for a free consultation.

    There are many defenses to take against prostitution charges and sex crimes and we will work hard to build the strongest defense possible to win your case.

    Let us help you protect your name, your rights, your freedom and your future. Rest assured, Shrager Defense Attorneys will fight for you.

    Being charged with prostitution in Pennsylvania does not have to mean that you will be convicted.

    Shrager Defense Attorneys in Pittsburgh, PA will attack your criminal charges in order to protect your good name. Have a sound and solid case prepared by our legal team so they can fight for your rights.

    If you have been charged with, or think you may be charged with, any of the following sexual offenses, call Attorney Shrager immediately for a free consultation: