California Criminal Defense Blog

38 people have been charged with involvement in a sophisticated prostitution ring that was being operated in Oceanside, California. Penal Code 647(b) California’s prostitution law criminalizes not only the physical act of engaging in sexual acts for money but also offering or agreeing to engage in such acts (a crime known as solicitation of prostitution).

Gang members from the “Oceanside Crips” were allegedly running the ring from prison while they were incarcerated on other charges. The gang was using social networking sites such as Twitter, My Space and Facebook to lure female runaways into their enterprise.

This bust involved federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Not only did officials charge the gang members who were running the ring, but they also charged the owner and operator of the motel that the gang most commonly used to carry out the acts of prostitution. That motel has been seized by the government.

Many arrests that take place pursuant to Penal Code 647(b) California’s prostitution law are made because of undercover operations such as this one. Oftentimes the critical issue in the case becomes whether the officers’ have video or audio recordings of the conversations that allegedly took place. Jurors are often skeptical of prostitution cases where the only evidence is the officer’s testimony.

In Nevada, that is. Nevada is currently the only state where prostitution is legal…as long as it is confined to brothels located in specific counties within the state. Until recently, these brothels only hired women in accordance with the state’s health and safety laws that required licensed prostitutes to undergo frequent cervical testing to ensure they remain STD free.

Within a couple of weeks, one of the state’s legal brothels is hoping to hire a few men to service their clients. This is thanks to a new regulation that provides for urethral testing for men to ensure the same health standards for both sexes.

Continue reading "Introducing the First Legal Male Prostitutes" »

Truth: Nevada is the one state in the US where prostitution is legal.

Myth: A person can visit Las Vegas and purchase a prostitute legally.

The fact is that Nevada prostitution law makes the trade legal only in counties with a population of less than 400,000. This immediately excludes Nevada’s two largest counties, Clark County (home to Las Vegas) and Washoe County (home to Reno). Moreover, even the smaller counties can outlaw prostitution if they choose, and several of the small counties have chosen to do so.

Las Vegas criminal defense lawyers indicate that a substantial number of tourists get arrested there on Las Vegas solicitation for prostitution charges. Some of the arrestees are under the mistaken belief that the activity is legal in Las Vegas, or that vice enforcement really doesn’t take place in Sin City. But many undercover sting operations take place, and these net numerous arrests.

Under NRS 201.354 , a person convicted for engaging in or soliciting prostitution in Nevada sustains a misdemeanor and the judge can send him/her to jail for as long as 6 months. If the person knowingly has HIV or another sexually transmitted disease, the penalties can be substantially greater.