Maryland Prostitution Lawyer
All aspects of prostitution are against the law in Maryland and treated as crimes. Prostitution crimes in Maryland include prostituting oneself, soliciting sex in exchange for money (or other compensation), and acting as a go-between to arrange for sex involving a prostitute and a solicitor. An experienced Maryland prostitution lawyer can help defend you from prostitution charges by reviewing the facts of your case and creating the best possible defense for your situation.
The Role of a Maryland Prostitution Lawyer
If you have been arrested and charged with prostitution in Maryland, a Maryland prostitution lawyer can represent you in court. Most importantly, a prostitution attorney can sit with you and explain how the case will proceed. With your attorney’s information and counsel, you can determine your next step, whether it is negotiating for a plea offer or taking the case to trial.
A Maryland Prostitution Lawyer Can Help With These Charges:
Prostitution crimes in Maryland generally fall into three categories:
Prostitution
Any sexual act, sexual contact, or vaginal intercourse performed in exchange for compensation (usually money, but “compensation would include anything of value, such as drugs) is considered prostitution (Section 11-301(c)).
Solicitation
Any person who encourages, requests, advises, persuades, induces, urges, or commands another person to commit any sexual act, sexual contact, or vaginal intercourse performed in exchange for compensation is guilty of solicitation (Section 11-301(g)).
Human Trafficking
Human trafficking has replaced the category of prostitution crime that used to be called “pandering” and is more commonly known as “pimping.” This change is in recognition of a recent shift in focus that considers many sex crimes and prostitution crimes to be part of a larger social problem that exploits vulnerable persons, women and children in particular. As such, human trafficking is now considered the most serious prostitution crime and carries harsher penalties which makes contacting a Maryland prostitution lawyer even more important (Section 11-303).
It is also illegal in Maryland for a person to knowingly:
- Transport someone somewhere for the purpose of committing prostitution
- Place, position, or shelter a person in a specific place in order for that person to commit prostitution
- Encourage, entice, induce or persuade someone to be taken to a specific place for the purpose of committing prostitution
- Receive compensation (monetary or otherwise) for locating someone in a specific place for the purpose of causing that person to commit assignation or prostitution
- Engage in a scheme or repeated set of actions with the intent to give a person reasonable fear of harm if they refuse to engage in any sort of sexual act
- Adapt, modify, hide, or destroy any government identification or immigration document or passport for the purposes of committing prostitution
Penalties for Prostitution in Maryland
In Maryland, prostitution crimes carry serious penalties, each carrying the potential for jail time and a permanent criminal record.
- Prostitution: A person guilty of prostitution faces conviction of a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and up to $500 in fines (Section 11-306(b)).
- Solicitation: A person guilty of solicitation faces conviction of a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and up to $500 in fines (Section 11-306(b)).
- Human trafficking: A person guilty of human trafficking faces conviction of a misdemeanor that may be punished by 10 years in prison and a possible fine of $5,000 (Section 11-303(c)(1)). Human trafficking violations involving the sales and transport of minors are subject to felony penalties that can span 25 years in prison and include fines up to $15,000 (Section 11-303(c)(2)).
Call a Maryland Prostitution Lawyer Today
If you are accused of any form of prostitution offense in Maryland, you have rights and are entitled to a vigorous defense. Our experienced criminal defense lawyers are prepared to secure and protect your rights and provide the representation you deserve. Call our Maryland prostitution lawyers today.