Clearwater police arrested 12 people in a sting operation aimed at prostitution in the Tampa area. The prostitution sting was conducted at various locations of the East Gateway area of Clearwater and was directed at reducing prostitution and solicitation activity in the area. Jovanny Perez, one of the women arrested, allegedly was HIV positive. Perez also faces the additional charge of prostitution while HIV positive, which is a third degree felony under Florida criminal law. Two other women, Tabitha Stewart and Linda Bosack, also face additional charges of possession of drug paraphernalia. Three other women arrested face an additional charge in addition to the prostitution charge specifically felony solicitation, warrant arrest for failure to appear (FTA) and resisting arrest.
With the rise of the internet, escort services that utilize the internet have become prevalent. Men from all walks of life and professions frequent these sites and contact escorts for companionship. However, merely asking a woman to provide sexual services for pay constitutes the criminal offense of solicitation. Law enforcement frequently run sting operations like the one described above aimed at reducing the amount of prostitution in the Tampa area. What many people do not realize is that the actual exchange of sex for money is not necessary for a prosecutor to obtain a conviction for solicitation. The mere offer to pay for sex is all that is required to face arrest for solicitation. The crime "solicitation of prostitution" is one of the few crimes where mere words alone constitute a criminal offense.
A conviction for solicitation can be very embarrassing and have a devastating impact on one's reputation. An arrest for solicitation also can lead to the loss of one's marriage, employment and standing in the community. Under Florida solicitation law, a person arrested for solicitation also faces serious criminal penalties. The criminal penalties for a solicitation conviction can include the following:
• STD Screening: If you are arrested in Orlando for solicitation, you must submit to STD screening. A positive test result will mean treatment and counseling with the results made available to court personnel, the prosecutor and the judge.
• Media Exposure: Your arrest may be broadcast on television and covered in the newspaper. Increasingly, Florida law enforcement is running public service announcements with the names and pictures of those arrested for solicitation and prostitution to utilize public exposure as a deterrent.
• Driver's License Revocation: If you were driving your car when you offered money for sex, your driver's license will be automatically revoked.
• Fines/Costs: You may be fined up to $1000 and may be forced to pay restitution for the cost of the criminal investigation of your case.
• Jail Time: The court has discretion to charge a person arrested for prostitution up to one year in county jail.
To avoid both punishment under Florida solicitation law and the other consequences that flow from a prostitution conviction, you should immediately request a qualified Florida solicitation defense lawyer. A Florida solicitation defense lawyer may be able to persuade the prosecutor not to charge you so the case is handled discretely and quickly goes away according to Tampa criminal attorney John Musca. "Alternatively, a qualified Florida solicitation defense lawyer may be able to persuade the judge to allow you to participate in a diversion program. If the diversion program is completed successfully, the court can dismiss the charges against you," said Musca.
If you have been arrested or are facing criminal allegations, you face a number of important decisions. The most critical one is choosing who will represent you in the legal system.
It is important to be proactive in building your defense. A conviction will likely change your life. But with high quality legal representation on your side, it is possible to put these charges behind you for good. If you have been arrested and are seeking legal guidance, Musca Law is here for you. Contact a Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney at Musca Law today, to speak with an experienced attorney. We offer a free trial consultation and Spanish language translation services.
