Penalties for Prostitution – PC 647(b)

You are a struggling college student. Unable to make your tuition payments, you agreed to engage in sexual intercourse with an older gentleman who offered to make these payments for you. Now, you are being charged with agreeing to engage in prostitution under California Penal Code section 647(b). What penalties for prostitution do you face if you are convicted of agreeing to engage in the crime?

Penalties for Prostitution PC 647(b) Conviction

If you are convicted under California Penal Code section 647(b), you will face up to six months in county jail and up to $1,000 in court fines.

If you committed the act while using a car within 1,000 feet of a private residence, the court may suspend your driver’s license for up to 30 days or restrict your driving privilege for up to six months. A restricted license will allow you to drive to and from work or school. You may also be permitted to drive within the scope of your employment if your duties require driving a motor vehicle (VC 13201.5).

A conviction under PC 647(b) does not require automatic sex offender registration under California Penal Code section 290. However, a judge could order you to register if he or she determines that you engaged in an act of prostitution as a result of a sexual compulsion or for purposes of sexual gratification (PC 290.006).

Prostitution Laws in California

California Penal Code section 647(b) states that “a person agrees to engage in an act of prostitution when, with specific intent to so engage, he or she manifests an acceptance of an offer or solicitation to so engage.”

Thus, the prosecutor must prove the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt in order to convict you of agreeing to engage in an act of prostitution:

• You agreed to engage in an act of prostitution with another person;
• You intended to engage in an act of prostitution with another person; AND
• In addition to the agreement, you performed an act in furtherance of prostitution.

Example: You posted an ad on Craigslist offering sexual intercourse for a fixed price. You agreed to engage in an act of prostitution with an individual who responded to the ad. You intended to engage in the act of prostitution and performed an act in furtherance of prostitution by driving to the person’s house. Thus, you may be convicted of prostitution under PC 647(b).

Why You Should Hire the Prostitution Defense Attorneys at Wallin & Klarich

If you are facing a prostitution charge, you should contact the law offices of Wallin & Klarich immediately. The skilled criminal defense attorneys at Wallin & Klarich have over 30 years of experience successfully defending prostitution cases. Our attorneys will provide you with the most efficient and professional representation from the moment that you retain us. We will scrutinize all of the evidence and use all available defenses in order to provide you with the best opportunity to win your case.

Our offices are located in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, West Covina, Victorville, Torrance and Sherman Oaks. Please call us today at (877) 466-5245 to discuss your case. We will get through this together.