Being charged with the crime of prostitution may result in anything from a second-degree misdemeanor to a second-degree felony. In addition to imprisonment and considerable fines, the defendant is left with the lifelong consequences of having a criminal record for a sex offense.
If they are convicted of a felony, there may be additional consequences, including the loss of certain rights, such as the ownership of a firearm or the ability to run for public office.
In this situation, you need to consult a sex crime attorney. If you are facing even a first-time charge for prostitution, dedicated Tampa prostitution defense lawyer Will Hanlon can evaluate your case and help protect your future as you fight the charges against you. The Constitution offers a number of protections to people accused of committing a crime. One of the most important of these is the right to counsel, secured by the Sixth Amendment.
This means that a person accused of a crime has a legal right to hire counsel of their choice. While public defenders provide an important service to people who have no other choice, the fact is that they have very heavy caseloads and are under a lot of pressure to move cases through the system quickly. If possible, it helps to have a private attorney who will take the time to listen to your side of the case and advocate aggressively for a favorable outcome rather than settling for the first plea bargain offer.
In a prostitution case, the State must prove that the defendant participated in the criminal offense of prostitution. A prostitution defense attorney in the Tampa area can further explain the scope of this law and the activities that it covers. The punishment for the crime of prostitution is increasingly harsh with each subsequent offense, so it is important to defend even a first-time charge as zealously as possible.
