If you were charged with soliciting a prostitute in New Jersey, one of the questions you may want answered is whether your charges can be dropped. Whether you’re looking to have charges dropped or dismissed, most people who have been charged with a crime just want to see the charges go away. In many cases, solicitation of prostitution charges can be dismissed or dropped in New Jersey.
If you were charged with prostitution or soliciting a prostitute, talk to the Atlantic City criminal defense attorneys at The Law Offices of John J. Zarych today.
Solicitation Charges in New Jersey
The crime of soliciting a prostitute in New Jersey is included in the general “prostitution” statute. N.J.S.A. § 2C:34-1 includes all prostitution offenses. New Jersey’s definition of “prostitution” includes not only being paid for sexual acts, but also offering or accepting an offer to engage in sexual activity for money. This means that the statute equally punishes both the “prostitute” and the “john.” Many policing efforts go after those who try to hire prostitutes, and punish them rather than the sex workers.
Of the multiple crimes included in this statute, such as promoting prostitution, prostituting one’s wife or child, or engaging in sexual acts with an underage prostate, solicitation is the lowest-level offense. Specifically, solicitation under § 2C:34-1(b)(1) is punished as a disorderly persons offense in New Jersey. This is New Jersey’s equivalent of a “misdemeanor” in other states, and is punished by a maximum of six months in jail and fines up to $1,000.
However, this is only the case for a first offense. A second or third charge for soliciting a prostitute is upgraded to a fourth degree crime. This is punishable by up to 18 months in prison and fines up to $10,000. Additionally, if a car is used to solicit a prostitute, you can have your license suspended for six months.
How to Beat a Solicitation Charges in Atlantic City
Whenever you are charged with a crime, you could win your case a few ways. First, if the prosecutors do not believe the charges need to continue or do not think they have enough evidence to prove you committed a crime, they may “drop” the charges against you. Second, charges may be “dismissed” by a judge who finds that the charges lack probable cause or do not legally meet the definition of the crime. Lastly, if your case goes before a jury and goes to trial, you may be found not guilty and be “acquitted” of the crime.
Since prostitution and solicitation charges often involve very intimate details and very few witnesses, they may be difficult to prove. Police often rely upon defendants pleading guilty to the crime to get convictions. Except for cases where a defendant allegedly offered to pay an undercover cop for sexual favors, it may be difficult to get any witnesses to the solicitation. In these cases, charges may be dropped for lack of evidence, unless the defendant pleads guilty.
Since soliciting a prostitute is a disorderly persons offense, there may be additional ways to get the charges dropped. In New Jersey, there is a program called the “Pre Trial Intervention Program” (PTI). This program may be available to first-time offenders who have been charged with a disorderly persons offense. For this program to work, you must enter a conditional guilty plea to the offense. If you complete all required conditions, the plea will be thrown out, the charges will be dropped, and your criminal record will go away.
PTI usually requires defendants to undergo counseling, perform community service, follow rules of supervision, and undergo drug testing. It also requires defendants to remain free from further crime as they complete other requirements. Successfully completing PTI can get your charges dropped entirely.
If you are charged with solicitation in a casino in or around Atlantic City, don’t hesitate to contact an experienced solicitation in a casino lawyer to help you achieve the best possible outcome.
Prostitution Solicitation Attorneys in Atlantic City
If you were charged with a crime, it is vital to have an attorney on your side. Challenging the evidence in court is one of the most important parts of getting charges dropped or dismissed. An experienced criminal defense attorney like those at The Law Offices of John J. Zarych can help combat the government’s evidence, challenge the way that it is used in court, and work to fight against the admissibility of testimony against you.
Being charged with a crime like soliciting a prostitute can be embarrassing and devastating to your personal life or reputation. The Atlantic City sex crimes defense attorneys at the Law Offices of John J. Zarych offer completely free, completely confidential consultations on new cases. Call (609) 616-4956 today to schedule your free consultation.
