Facing prostitution charges in Oklahoma? Contact our experienced defense attorneys for legal help.
As lawmakers across the United States make an effort to crack down on prostitution in this country, local authorities are actively on the look-out for those engaging in prostitution and those soliciting prostitution as well. In some cases, undercover police officers may even pose as a prostitute in hopes of inducing an offer and making an arrest. If you have been arrested on prostitution charges in Oklahoma, contact our qualified defense attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center to discuss your possible defense options.
Oklahoma Prostitution Charges
Prostitution is the profession of performing sexual acts for money or other items of value, and is considered a criminal offense throughout the state of Oklahoma. Soliciting acts of prostitution, called pandering or simply “soliciting,” is also a crime in Oklahoma, as is pandering on behalf of a prostitute – better known as “pimping.” The most common types of prostitution-related crimes in Oklahoma include:
- Prostitution – this includes much more than sexual intercourse, and could be extended to numerous different acts if the objective of the acts being sold is sexual arousal
- Soliciting/pandering – the act of attempting to persuade someone to engage in sexual conduct for money, including selling sexual acts to another person or offering money to another person to perform sexual acts
- Pimping – the act of soliciting prostitution on the behalf of another person, even if it only occurs once
- Child prostitution – describes any act of prostitution involving a child under the age of 16
Penalties for Prostitution in Oklahoma
Under Oklahoma law, all acts of prostitution are prohibited, along with other crimes that promote, aid or facilitate prostitution. In Oklahoma, it is unlawful to engage in prostitution; solicit, entice or procure another person to commit prostitution; reside in or enter a house of prostitution with the intent to commit an act of prostitution; or to aid or facilitate any of these offenses. Oklahoma law dictates that each prostitution offense will be charged as a misdemeanor, punishable by the following penalties: thirty days to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500 for the first offense. A second prostitution conviction carries the same jail time with a fine of up to $5,000, and a third offense carries the same jail time with a fine of up to $7,500 per offense.
Under Oklahoma law, any act of prostitution that is committed with the knowledge of having an HIV infection is a felony offense, punishable by a prison term of up to five years. Any of the aforementioned prostitution crimes that are committed near a school or church carry stricter penalties compared to most other prostitution offenses. Furthermore, a person convicted of any prostitution-related act involving a child could face up to ten years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine for a first-time conviction.
Our Criminal Defense Attorneys Can Help
Prostitution is a sex crime that is not taken lightly in Oklahoma. If you are facing any prostitution-related charges in Oklahoma, you could be sentenced to a prison term, a significant fine, or both, if you are convicted. Remember – you reserve the right to stand up and defend yourself in a court of law. By contacting our criminal defense lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center, you can begin building a strong defense immediately.