Gulf Shores Solicitation Lawyer

Solicitation, or hiring a prostitute, is a serious crime under Alabama state law. Someone convicted of this charge could face serious legal penalties, including jail time.

Anyone charged with solicitation should contact a Gulf Shores solicitation lawyer immediately after arrest. Hiring an experienced lawyer is the best step anyone can take to avoid conviction when possible and preserve their reputation.

According to Alabama Code, criminal solicitation means intentionally engaging another person in conduct constituting a crime. Someone is guilty of solicitation if they “solicit, request, commands or importunes such other person to engage in such [criminal] conduct.”

While solicitation can occur whenever someone requests or commands another person to engage in criminal conduct, soliciting prostitution is specifically prohibited.

This law states that no one can “solicit, compel, or coerce any person to have sexual intercourse or participate in any natural or unnatural sexual act, deviate sexual intercourse, or sexual contact” in exchange for money or anything else of value.

The possible penalties associated with a violation of solicitation laws in Gulf Shores depend on the severity of the requested criminal conduct. Soliciting certain criminal conduct may be considered a felony, while soliciting other crimes may be classified as a less serious misdemeanor.

Specifically, solicitation of prostitution is considered a Class A misdemeanor. A first-time conviction on this charge can result in:

• A jail sentence up to 1 year
• Fines up to $6,000

The accusation and a potential conviction in Gulf Shores could carry a certain social stigma, and can potentially damage relationships with family and friends. Even if the charge was the result of misunderstanding, it could impact a person’s reputation in the community. In addition to the criminal penalties and damage to the person’s reputation, depending on the field of employment, a solicitation conviction could impact their livelihood and cost them their employment. These repercussions make contacting an experienced Gulf Shores solicitation attorney extremely important.

While it is illegal to solicit prostitution from anyone in Alabama, specific laws apply when someone solicits sexual activity from a minor under the age of 16. One such state law prohibits knowingly soliciting “for the purpose of causing a minor to engage in sexual servitude”. Anyone who does knowingly solicit a minor in this manner could face charges of human trafficking in the first degree. This is a separate, and more serious crime, than solicitation of prostitution.

Human trafficking in the first degree is a Class A felony, the highest classification of felony under state law. Those convicted of this charge face a life sentence in prison (between 10 and 99 years) and fines up to $60,000.

Federal law also prohibits soliciting a minor to “engage in sexual servitude.” Anyone facing a human trafficking charge in Alabama may also face related federal charges, and is even more in need of a Gulf Shores solicitation lawyer’s help.

Experienced Gulf Shores solicitation lawyers understand how stressful and confusing the criminal process can be. They are dedicated to defending their clients throughout this process, regardless of the charges they face. Skilled defense attorneys are prepared to defend you and your reputation against solicitation or other related charges. If you are facing a charge, contact a solicitation attorney in Gulf Shores today.