Just like offering or providing sexual services of any kind in exchange for compensation, agreeing to pay for or actually paying for such services is illegal in the Grand Canyon State. However, while the former offense is expressly defined under state law as prostitution, you will not find any specific charge in the Arizona Revised Statutes dedicated to solicitation, which can make fighting criminal allegations of solicitation trickier to fight back against than you might expect.
Fortunately, you have support from experienced defense attorneys at a firm that has been locally owned and operated in the Phoenix metro area for over 30 years. If you have been arrested for or even simply accused of soliciting sex in any context, getting in touch with a Phoenix, AZ solicitation lawyer from Phillips Law Group should be among your top priorities.
How Do State and Local Laws Address Solicitation of Sexual Services?
Arizona Revised Statutes §13-3214 is the section of state law which specifically addresses prostitution as a criminal offense, which A.R.S. §13-3211(5) defines as engaging in, agreeing to engage in, or offering to engage in any sexual conduct based on promised or actual payment with money or anything else of value. In this context, sexual conduct includes not only penetrative sexual intercourse but also all forms of oral contact with or manipulation of intimate areas of the body, as well as various forms of sadomasochistic abuse.
Technically, this statute only explicitly prohibits people from knowingly engaging in prostitution, but it is broadly interpreted as a prohibition against receiving or requesting a sexual interaction meeting the aforementioned definition of prostitution. As a qualified attorney can affirm, Phoenix City Code §23-52 does expressly prohibit soliciting or hiring another person to commit an act of prostitution” within the city limits of Phoenix anyway.
Increased Penalties for Repeat Solicitation Offenders
Under both A.R.S. §13-3214 and Phoenix City Code §23-52, a first-time offender convicted of soliciting prostitution has committed a Class 1 misdemeanor and must be sentenced to a mandatory minimum 15-day jail sentence up to a maximum of six months. They may also be subject to additional sanctions, which can include up to three years of probation, a maximum fine of $2,500, and additional surcharges, which can end up being almost as expensive as the underlying fine.
The mandatory minimum jail term for a solicitation conviction increases to 30 days for someone with one prior conviction for this type of offense on their record, then to 60 days for someone with two past convictions, and finally 180 days for defendants with three or more past convictions. Additionally, third and subsequent convictions for solicitation offenses in Phoenix also have court-ordered education or treatment as a mandatory sanction—once again, something a skilled lawyer can go into more detail about during a private consultation.
Work With a Phoenix, AZ Solicitation Attorney
Both law enforcement officers and court authorities in central Arizona take allegations of solicitation very seriously, especially for people who already have prior convictions on this type of charge. Put bluntly, without a knowledgeable Phoenix, AZ solicitation lawyer on your side; you may have a very hard time contesting your specific charges effectively, which means you may have little chance of avoiding life-altering criminal penalties.
Our team at Phillips Law Group has the experience and expertise needed to help you get the best possible result from your case. Call today to schedule a meeting with one of our team members and discuss your legal options.
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