Westfield Sex Solicitation Attorney
Why Hire Our Sex Solicitation Lawyer in Westfield
Few criminal charges have the same negative social stigma attached to them as sex crimes. Even if the offense is only prostitution or solicitation, a conviction can permanently damage your reputation, lead to a criminal record, and subject you to criminal penalties that can hinder your life and freedom. If you are facing charges of this nature, reach out to an experienced Westfield sex crime attorney from The Criminal Defense Team of Baldwin Perry & Wiley PC for immediate and confidential legal assistance.
What Is Sex Solicitation in Indiana?
Indiana Code 35-45-4-3 punishes both sides of the prostitution transaction. While prostitution is offering sexual services for money, solicitation is the knowing or intentional paying, offer of, or agreement to pay money or other property in exchange for engaging in sexual intercourse, engaging in other sexual conduct, or the fondling of another person’s genitals.
In Indiana, solicitation is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense, but if the defendant has two or more prior convictions for solicitation, they can be charged with a Level 6 felony.
Indiana has a separate criminal offense of promoting prostitution if the defendant is believed to be recruiting people to become prostitutes or operating a brothel or other place used for prostitution. Under Indiana law, this offense is considered a Level 5 felony or a Level 4 felony if the prostitute is underage.
Another serious crime that involves solicitation is child solicitation. This offense is the luring of a child 13 or younger to engage in sexual intercourse or sexual conduct with an adult. How this offense is charged depends on the age of the child and the defendant and other circumstances surrounding the offense.
Potential Penalties for Sex Solicitation
If the crime is charged as a regular Class A misdemeanor, it can result in a jail term of up to one year. If it is a Level 6 felony, the defendant can face six to 30 months of incarceration. A Level 5 felony coincides with a prison sentence of one to six years, while a Level 4 felony can result in two to twelve years in prison. You can also be required to pay fines and face other penalties, including registering as a sex offender in some cases.
Your criminal defense lawyer will try to shield you from these harsh consequences.
Potential Defenses to Sex Solicitation
As board-certified criminal trial specialists, our legal team can work tirelessly to investigate your case, review the circumstances surrounding the offense, and raise viable legal defenses, such as:
- Non-transactional sexual intercourse
- Illegal searches and seizures
- Entrapment by law enforcement
- Lack of knowledge or intent
We can also negotiate with prosecutors to try to have the charges reduced or dismissed.
Contact Our Westfield Sex Solicitation Attorneys for a Confidential Consultation
At The Criminal Defense Team, our criminal defense attorneys in Westfield understand how distressing it can be to face criminal charges, especially over a simple misunderstanding. We can investigate your case and fight to protect your rights throughout each stage of your case. Call (317) 687-8326 for a free and confidential consultation.