You Can Face Steep Penalties for Sexual Solicitation in Peoria IL
While sexual solicitation in Peoria IL might not seem like a serious crime to most, Illinois law can be fairly strict with charges related to it. In fact, penalties for solicitation can sometimes outweigh the penalties associated with prostitution. However, even when at risk for steep fines or possible jailtime, you have legal options you can take to protect yourself. Talk with the attorneys at Borsberry Law to see how you can build your defense against sexual solicitation charges.
What is Sexual Solicitation?
The first step to defending against sexual solicitation charges is understanding the crime you are being accused of. Sexual solicitation, or solicitation of a prostitute, is the act of a person offering money or valuables to another person who is not their spouse in exchange for sexual acts. This agreement or exchange can occur in person, over the phone, or via internet sites. And to be charged with a crime, the mere arrangement of solicitation from a prostitute is enough to get you in trouble.
Penalties for Sexual Solicitation
Some might not consider solicitation charges to be “significant” because of the crime’s status as a misdemeanor upon the first offense. However, the crime can still warrant a maximum of a year in jail and up to $2,500 in fines. And solicitation can become a Class 4 felony upon multiple offenses, resulting in three years max of prison time and up to $25,000 in fines. Additionally, you can receive felony charges if solicitation occurs within 1,000 feet of a school, the person you were soliciting from is under 18, or has a profound intellectual disability.
Options for Defense
When facing charges of sexual solicitation in Peoria IL, legal penalties aren’t the only things you should be worried about. Having such charges on your record comes with a stigma that can follow you throughout the rest of your life. A conviction can prevent job opportunities, hamper your ability to find particular housing, stop you from obtaining a loan, etc. Thankfully, Borsberry Law can build a case for your defense, depending on the facts surrounding your case. Such defense strategies include:
- Entrapment
- Often, arrests for solicitation stem from the efforts of undercover officers or “sting” operations. However, in such cases, it’s easier to argue a case for entrapment. Entrapment is when an agent coerces you into engaging in sexual solicitation
- Mistake
- Another common defense can involve the individual having mistaken the solicitation as something else. For example, having not known you were paying for solicitation as part of a massage parlor prostitution operation. Or you were mistaking a prostitute’s escort services as a date.
- Not Clearly Defined
- You can claim innocence from sexual solicitation by not having enough evidence to support the crime. Your attorney can argue proposed evidence does not explicitly express a definitive agreement of sexual favors for money. If it cannot be proved you were attempting to pay for prostitution, charges can be dropped.
Call Today
Whether being accused of sexual solicitation in Peoria IL, or any number of other criminal charges in Illinois, be sure to build a solid legal defense with the attorneys at Borsberry Law. Or, for additional help with family law, custody, juvenile law and more, you can contact us today at 309-637-9000 to set up a free consultation. Also, our office is located at 203 NE Jefferson St, Peoria, IL 61602.