An accusation of solicitation is a serious problem. They are convictions that stay on your record and haunt you throughout your life. What you do after your arrest is crucial when it comes to fighting the charges.
It is normal to be scared, but having the best sex crime attorney in town puts you on the right path. In the meantime, keep these five tips in mind to help your case.
When you are under the stress of being accused of solicitation, there are some basic things you might not realize. How you move forward after your arrest will affect how your attorney can defend you.
These five tips will give you the best possible setup for your case:
- Call an attorney immediately. Anyone arrested, no matter what the charge, has the right to an attorney. If you don’t know who to contact, call someone who can help you. Until you have a lawyer with you, you have the right to remain silent. Don’t answer any questions until you have legal representation to assist you. What you say can be used to incriminate you later. It is best to have a professional with you to guide you.
- A solicitation charge isn’t necessarily a felony. No matter what the law enforcement officer says, your situation isn’t necessarily a felony. First-time solicitation offenders may get charged with a misdemeanor. These are punishable with a shorter jail time and a fine of $500. Beyond the first charge, however, there are serious consequences of up to two years in prison and higher fines.
- You can be charged even if no money exchanged hands. Many people use the defense of “I didn’t give them any money” when they are first arrested. Unfortunately, no money or compensation has to be officially remunerated. The offer and intent are enough. In some cases, you don’t have to be willing, which is why having your lawyer on hand is necessary.
- You are defending against intent, not actions. Solicitation and prostitution are similar, but not there is a major difference. To prove someone was engaging in the solicitation, the prosecution has to show without a doubt that the accused had intention. With prostitution, the evidence has to show the exchange was made, and the act occurred.
Your lawyer knows the ins and outs of accusations. There are multiple ways to defend against a solicitation arrest. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to use defenses of entrapment, insufficient evidence or lack of credibility. Attorneys who specialize in solicitation arrests know the best way to proceed to build your defense.
If you are arrested for solicitation, your best course of action is to stay respectful to the law enforcement officers and hire an attorney. No matter what the circumstances are, you are entitled to experience legal defense. Don’t try to handle the arrest on your own. The details can mean the difference between a misdemeanor, a felony and completely dropped charges.
Article written by Jane Davies
This article was written by the guest author listed at the end of the article.