With the exception of certain areas in Nevada, providing or offering sexual conduct of any kind in exchange for compensation is illegal everywhere in the United States, including in the Phoenix metro area. However, the exact definition of prostitution provided by state and local statutes can be a bit vague in places, and arrests based on allegations along these lines do not always hold up to scrutiny in—or sometimes even out of—criminal court.
With that in mind, you should strongly consider seeking help from a skilled private defense attorney if you are facing charges for selling or attempting to sell sexual services. A Phoenix, AZ prostitution lawyer from Phillips Law Group can help you construct the strongest possible defense strategy tailored to your circumstances and, in doing so, minimize the long-term repercussions that this accusation has on your personal and professional life.
What Does the Law Say About Prostitution?
Under Arizona Revised Statutes §13-3214, it is illegal for anyone to knowingly engage in prostitution, which A.R.S. §13-3211 defines as agreeing or offering to engage in any form of sexual contact, sexual intercourse, and/or sadomasochistic abuse in exchange for money or anything else of value. However, escort services which provide companionship and/or private exotic modeling in exchange for a free are allowed to operate in Arizona so long as they comply with the regulations set out in A.R.S. §13-1422.
Prostitution is also prohibited at the local government level by Phoenix City Code §23-52, which goes a bit farther than the state statute by also prohibiting people “manifest[ing] an intent” to engage in prostitution in view of the public. As a Phoenix, AZ prostitution attorney can further explain, “manifesting intent” in this context can mean actions like repeatedly beckoning to passersby or passing motor vehicles, asking whether a prospective patron is a police officer, or searching someone for a badge or some item which would identify them as a police officer prior to offering or providing sexual services.
Possible Penalties for a Prostitution Conviction
Under both Arizona state law and the Phoenix City Code, prostitution is categorized as a class 1 misdemeanor, and a first-time offender must serve at least 15 days in jail without eligibility for probation or suspension upon conviction. This mandatory minimum jail term increases to 30 days for a second conviction, and a third conviction carries a mandatory minimum 60-day jail sentence as well as court-ordered counseling.
Finally, fourth and subsequent convictions on prostitution charges are considered class 5 felonies offenses punishable by a mandatory minimum 180-day term of incarceration. All levels of prostitution charges in Phoenix, AZ may also be accompanied by other penalties like monetary fines and terms of probation extending past the end of an assessed jail sentence, something which a qualified lawyer can go into more detail about during a free, no-obligation consultation.
Work With a Phoenix, AZ Prostitution Attorney
Law enforcement authorities in the “Valley of the Sun” take sex crime allegations very seriously, including those involving acts like prostitution, which are not considered violent offenses. Even a single conviction for this sort of offense could permanently alter the course of your life, so if you are dealing with an allegation along these lines, contacting capable legal representation should be your number one priority.
The help you may need to achieve the positive case result you want is available from a Phoenix, AZ prostitution lawyer. Call Phillips Law Group to speak with one of our team members about your legal options.
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