New Kent Solicitation Lawyer
Solicitation is a class one misdemeanor offense, which is the most serious type of misdemeanor a person may be charged with. In some cases, a solicitation charge may be elevated to a class five or six felony. Regardless of the circumstances, however, if you have been charged with eliciting or requesting a sexual act from another person, a New Kent solicitation lawyer could assist you with your case.
A dedicated legal professional could help you fight solicitation charges by representing you during all legal proceedings and preparing an appropriate defense to the charges against you. A tenacious defense attorney could also safeguard your legal rights while helping you fight for the best outcome possible in your case.
Solicitation Offenses
The offense of solicitation involves offering another person money or other items of value in exchange for that individual’s participation in sexual acts. The person agreeing to accept a solicitor’s money or other items of value in exchange for sexual services may also be charged with prostitution.
Under section 18.2-346 of the Virginia criminal code, solicitation is elevated from a misdemeanor offense to a felony if the person being solicited for prostitution is a minor. When the minor is 16 years or older, the solicitation offense is charged as a Class 6 felony. If the minor is under sixteen, however, then the offense is charged as a Class 5 felony.
Furthermore, a charge could still be elevated from a misdemeanor to a felony even when the alleged solicitor was unaware that the individual being solicited for sexual services was a minor. A New Kent solicitation lawyer could help to answer questions pertaining to both misdemeanor and felony charges and how an accused individual should proceed.
Related Offenses in New Kent
Other types of offenses related to solicitation that are also prohibited in New Kent include prostitution and pandering. It is possible for an individual to face multiple charges pertaining to solicitation, prostitution, pandering, and other related offenses, such as pimping.
Prostitution involves offering to provide sexual services or to perform specific sexual acts in exchange for money or other items of value. Pandering involves facilitating the offense of prostitution, such as by promoting prostitution services on behalf of the individuals engaging in prostitution. A New Kent solicitation attorney could explain the differences between the various types of solicitation and prostitution-related offenses.
Potential Legal Penalties for Solicitation
The legal penalties for a conviction of illegally requesting a sexual act vary depending on whether the offense was charged as a misdemeanor or felony. Misdemeanor solicitation is punishable by a sentence of 12 months in jail and a possible $2,500 fine.
On the other hand, the penalty for convictions of Class 6 felony is a sentence of one to five years in prison and a possible $2,500 fine. The penalty for convictions of Class 5 felony, however, is a prison sentence of one to ten years and a possible fine of $2,500.
Contact a New Kent Solicitation Attorney
While facing a criminal accusation may feel intimidating, you do not have to handle a solicitation charge on your own. It could be to your benefit to have someone familiar with solicitation laws and penalties assist you with your case, instead of trying to make sense of the laws yourself.
A New Kent solicitation lawyer could review your case and recommend an appropriate defense strategy for fighting these charges. To begin building your defense, call a legal representative today.
