MenuCharged With Felony Prostitution?
If you find yourself confronted with felony prostitution charges in Michigan, it’s essential to take immediate action and seek reliable legal representation from a sex crimes attorney who handles cases like these. At George Law, our team of experienced criminal defense lawyers is dedicated to providing you with the support and guidance you need when navigating allegations that you’ve committed a particularly egregious prostitution offense. Don’t face the complexities of the legal process alone. Contact our sex crimes attorneys today at (248) 247-7459 to schedule a confidential and comprehensive case evaluation. If you prefer, you can also reach out to our criminal defense lawyers online by visiting our website. Our team of criminal defense attorneys will carefully examine the details of your prostitution case, strategize the best defense approach, and work tirelessly to achieve a positive outcome.
The Michigan law outlined in Michigan Penal Code Section 750.455 identifies several activities associated with prostitution that are illegal in Michigan. Each of these offenses is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Let’s delve deeper into each point:
Sourcing For A Brothel
If you’re found guilty of sourcing or procuring individuals to work as sex workers in a brothel, you’re committing a felony. The law covers any scenario where you might be involved in facilitating the placement of a person in a brothel.
Coercing Someone Into Prostitution
The act of inducing, persuading, or in any way encouraging a person to become a prostitute is a serious offense. This can include manipulation, enticement, or any form of pressure that could lead someone into the profession of prostitution.
Forcing Someone Into Prostitution
This covers the scenario where you use threats, promises, or violence, or any scheme or device to get a person to become an inmate in a brothel or any place where prostitution is practiced. Such an act constitutes a felony and attracts severe penalties.
Keeping Someone In Prostitution
Using any form of manipulation, violence, or deception to prevent a sex worker from leaving a brothel or the profession of prostitution is also against the law. It includes any promise or threat used to make an individual remain engaged in the act of prostitution.
Abuse Of Authority To Facilitate Prostitution
If you exploit your position of trust, authority, or use any form of deception to coerce someone into prostitution, it’s considered a criminal act. This includes situations where individuals are forced into sex work due to fraud, threats, or abuse of power.
Transporting Individuals For Prostitution
Luring, enticing, or coercing someone into coming into or leaving Michigan for the purpose of prostitution constitutes a crime. The law seeks to prevent the trafficking of individuals across state lines for sex work.
Fraudulent Marriage For Sexual Exploitation
Pretending to marry someone for the sole purpose of sexual exploitation is illegal. The law protects individuals who might be deceived or coerced into a pseudo-marriage arrangement and then forced into sexual intercourse.
Financial Transactions For Prostitution
Giving or receiving money or anything of value for procuring or attempting to procure a person to become a prostitute is illegal. This also applies to transactions made to facilitate someone’s movement into or out of Michigan for prostitution.
FAQ
What If I Didn’t Know The Person Was Being Forced Into Prostitution?
Ignorance of the circumstances does not typically exempt someone from legal responsibility. If you are involved in any activities listed in this statute, even without full knowledge, you may still be prosecuted.
Can I Be Convicted If I Only Attempted To Recruit Someone For A Brothel But Didn’t Succeed?
Yes. The statute specifically states that you can be prosecuted for attempting to procure a person to become a prostitute or to come into or leave the state of Michigan for prostitution.
What’s The Difference Between “Procuring” And “Enticing” Someone Into Prostitution?
Procuring generally means to obtain someone for the purpose of prostitution, while enticing involves luring or persuading someone to become involved in prostitution.
Can I Be Charged Under This Statute If I’m A Sex Worker?
The statute mainly targets those who exploit others into becoming sex workers. However, if you’re found to be encouraging or procuring others into the profession, you could potentially be charged.
What Does The Law Mean By “Pretense Of Marriage”?
“Pretense of marriage” means falsely claiming to be married to someone, often as a method of coercion or control, for the purpose of sexual intercourse.
Does It Matter Whether The Person I Procured For Prostitution Is From Michigan Or Another State?
No, it doesn’t matter. The statute specifically includes language about inducing someone to come into Michigan or leave the state for prostitution, indicating that you can be charged regardless of the person’s state of residence.
Can I Be Convicted If I Didn’t Receive Money For My Actions, But Other Forms Of Value?
Yes, the law specifies that receiving or giving “any money or thing of value” for actions associated with procuring prostitution is a crime. This includes goods, services, or any other form of value.
Is It Illegal To Persuade Someone To Engage In Prostitution If They Are Already Involved In The Profession?
Yes, even if a person is already involved in prostitution, encouraging or persuading them to continue is still considered a crime under this statute.
What Does “Abuse Of Any Position Of Confidence Or Authority” Mean?
This refers to situations where someone uses their position of trust or power to exploit another person into engaging in prostitution. This can include a wide range of relationships, such as employer-employee, teacher-student, or parent-child.
Can I Be Charged If I Was Only Joking About Encouraging Someone To Become A Prostitute?
The law doesn’t differentiate between a joke and a serious encouragement. The court would likely consider the context and the perception of the person on the receiving end of the comments.
Is It Illegal To Provide A Place For Prostitution To Occur?
Yes, according to this statute, providing a place for prostitution to occur is illegal. This includes both a house of prostitution (brothel) or any other location where prostitution is practiced, encouraged, or allowed.
If I Used A Threat To Keep A Person In Prostitution, But Never Acted On That Threat, Is It Still Illegal?
Yes, making threats to keep someone in prostitution, even if you never act on those threats, is still illegal.
How Serious Is A Felony Charge Under This Statute?
A felony charge under this statute is very serious. If convicted, you could face up to 20 years in prison. It can also have long-term effects on your personal and professional life, such as difficulty finding employment or housing.
Defenses
Based on the elements of this statute, the following defenses might be applicable. Please consult with a legal professional to understand the best defense strategy for a specific case:
Lack Of Knowledge Or Intent
This is a common defense for many criminal charges. It asserts that the accused didn’t know about the activities leading to charges, or they didn’t intend for their actions to contribute to prostitution. However, given the severity of these charges, this defense might be challenging to prove without substantial evidence.
Mistaken Identity
The accused might claim that they were wrongly identified as the person who committed the alleged crimes. In these cases, it’s crucial to provide evidence that supports this claim, such as an alibi.
Coercion Or Duress
If the accused was forced or threatened into performing the activities detailed in the statute, they might be able to use coercion or duress as a defense. However, this defense requires clear proof that there was immediate danger or harm involved.
Entrapment
Entrapment occurs when law enforcement induces a person to commit a crime that they would otherwise have been unlikely to commit. If a person can demonstrate they were entrapped into committing acts detailed in the statute, they could potentially use this as a defense.
Insufficient Evidence
A common defense in criminal cases is that the prosecution simply does not have enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime.
Constitutional Violations
If law enforcement violated the defendant’s constitutional rights during the investigation or arrest, such as conducting an illegal search or not reading the defendant their rights, it might be possible to get the charges dismissed.
Please remember that this is not a comprehensive list and defenses can heavily depend on the specific facts of a case. Legal defenses should be discussed with an experienced criminal defense attorney who can guide you through the process based on the specifics of the situation.
Felony Prostitution Attorney
If you or someone you know is charged with a felony prostitution crime, it is crucial to act swiftly. The skilled criminal defense attorney team at George Law is ready to fight for your freedom and future, as navigating the aftermath of a sex crimes conviction can be a devastating reality. Contact the criminal defense lawyer team today at (248) 247-7459 for a confidential and comprehensive case evaluation. The skilled sex crimes lawyer team will diligently review the details of your prostitution charges and strategize the best course of action tailored to your unique circumstances. Alternatively, you can reach out to our prostitution lawyers online today. Remember, time is of the essence when it comes to sex crimes charges, and securing experienced legal representation could make all the difference in achieving a favorable outcome. Don’t hesitate if you are facing a felony prostitution charge—call us now!