In recent years, lawmakers have significantly increased the monetary penalties for soliciting a prostitute. Currently, someone caught soliciting a prostitute for the first time can expect to pay thousands of dollars in fines and penalties, and the fact of the matter is that these penalties are exploitative and almost extortion in and of itself.
Most people don’t realize just how costly a solicitation charge can be, so in today’s blog, we shine a light on some of the expenses associated with a conviction, and we explain what you should be doing if you have been charged with solicitation.
First-Offense Prostitution Fees
When we talk about solicitation charges for the sake of the blog, know that we are talking about solicitation of a willing adult. We’re not talking about soliciting a minor or connecting with someone who has been the victim of sex trafficking or who is in the industry against their will. We know these situations exist, but oftentimes we end up with clients who are busted after soliciting a willing adult or someone who is posing as an adult who wants to exchange sexual services for money. This is essentially a victimless crime where there are two consenting parties or one consenting party and one police officer posing as a consenting party. These situations should not be penalized so vigorously, but they are, even when it is the person’s first offense.
Let’s look at some of the costs that they will face if they are convicted of soliciting a prostitute in Minnesota:
- Minimum monetary fine of $1,500.
- Mandatory penalty assessment between $750-$1,000.
- Victim services assessment between $750-$1,000.
Essentially, defendants can expect to pay at least $3,000 as part of their sentencing. Moreover, because it is a gross misdemeanor crime, we’ve been in situations where we meet with the prosecution in hopes of getting the charges reduced or dropped. Because the crime carries the potential of up to a year in jail, many prosecutors will simply say “plead guilty or we’ll push for jail time.” Since nobody wants to spend time in jail, especially for a first offense, these defendants are essentially bullied into pleading guilty and paying the massive fine just so they can ensure they stay out of jail for this victimless crime.
We work with a number of defendants in this position, and we’ll strongly advocate on your behalf and do everything we can to help you avoid jail or decrease the monetary penalties you’ll face in the event you are found guilty. We know that a conviction can also can harm to your personal relationships and social status, so let us work to manage the legal fallout while you try to smooth things out in your life. It’s not an ideal situation, but we’re confident that we can make things more manageable than if you try to navigate the court system without a professional in your corner.
For assistance dealing with a solicitation charge or a different criminal manner, reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm at (952) 224-2277.
