Prostitution
Prostitution Lawyer in Houston: Brazoria, Ft. Bend, Galveston, Harris & Montgomery Counties
Prostitution is sometimes called a “victimless crime.” Unfortunately, for many of those that have been arrested on a prostitution charge, the person arrested is often the “victim” of an overzealous police department or has been charged as the result of a simple misunderstanding. In any case, if you have been arrested on a charge of prostitution you should immediately retain legal counsel to protect your constitutional rights. Contact the Law Office of Greg Tsioros for a free consultation about your case: (832) 752-5972.
What Defines a Prostitution Crime?
Under the Texas Penal Code, Section 43.02, you can be charged with a prostitution offense if you:
- Offer to engage, agree to engage, or engage in sexual conduct for a fee; or
- Solicits another in a public place to engage with them in sexual conduct for hire.
Many prostitution arrests occur during police “sting” operations during which male and female police officers will pose as prostitutes in order to lure potential unsuspecting “customers” into situations where those customers can be arrested for “solicitation of prostitution.” In many cases those arrests are the result of entrapment, which happens when the undercover officer initiates the conversation with the intent of enticing his or her “victim” into making a statement that will result in an arrest. Although such practices have been rejected by the courts, the police have continued to use them. Unfortunately, the average citizen is unaware that their constitutional rights are being violated and many innocent people will later be coerced into making a guilty plea in order to escape a harsher sentence.
Possible Penalties of a Prostitution Conviction
In September 2021, Texas changed the crime of solicitation of prostitution from a misdemeanor to a state jail felony. The penalties of prostitution itself remain the same.
In the State of Texas, if you are convicted of prostitution, you can face a variety of sentences: A first conviction is a Class B misdemeanor and can be punished by :
- Jail confinement of up to 180 days
- A fine of up to $2,000
- A combination of confinement and a fine
A second or third prostitution conviction can be punished as a Class A misdemeanor, which can carry:
- Jail confinement of up to 1 year
- A fine of up to $4,000
- A combination of confinement and a fine
After a third prostitution conviction, the conviction is treated as a State Jail Felony and can be punished by:
- Confinement in a state jail for not less than 180 days or more than 2 years
- A fine of up to $10,000
- Any combination of confinement and a fine
Contact Attorney Greg Tsioros
If you are facing a prostitution charge in the Greater Houston Area, you should contact criminal defense attorney Greg Tsioros in order to protect your rights under both state and federal constitutional law. Greg began his legal career with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and is familiar with the exact legal procedures that the state must follow in all criminal cases. Greg will bring that knowledge to your legal defense and force the state to obey its own laws in criminal court.
Contact Attorney Greg Tsioros today at (832) 752-5972.
