This offense may be treated as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances. Even a conviction for a misdemeanor criminal offense such as solicitation can have damaging long-term consequences, so it is wise for anyone facing charges connected with patronizing prostitution to consult an experienced Pennsylvania solicitation lawyer. A dedicated criminal defense attorney could build a defensive strategy designed to reach the best possible disposition of your case.
Prostitution itself is defined to include engaging in sex as a business, hanging out in a public place seeking to be hired for sex or being caught in a house of prostitution.
For more information about this crime, consult with a knowledgeable Pennsylvania prostitution attorney. The penalties for patronizing a prostitute or engaging in prostitution increase in severity according to certain key factors. Prior convictions for these offenses will increase the potential penalties. And engaging in either practice by those who realize that they are HIV positive or have AIDS will substantially increase the severity of the crime.
For a first or second conviction of patronizing a prostitute, the offense is treated as a third-degree misdemeanor. These penalties would cause this type of offense to be considered a felony in many jurisdictions.
Severe penalties may also be assessed to those convicted of offenses such as promoting prostitution and promoting the prostitution of a minor. In many cases, promotion of prostitution is treated as a third-degree felony. The crime of promoting prostitution covers a wide range of activities including encouraging someone to become or remain a prostitute, soliciting a person to patronize a prostitute, procuring a prostitute for a patron, and transporting or paying for transportation for someone to engage in prostitution.
