Defending those Accused of Prostitution
Too often, our government unnecessarily intrudes into the lives of consenting adults, causing needless harm to those it targets. Whether the police are accusing you of soliciting a fee for sexual conduct or agreeing to pay such a fee, a criminal charge of this type can do incalculable harm to your reputation, relationships and career prospects.
Local and state police departments of Massachusetts have been attempting to crack down on prostitution and related offenses by increasingly harassing individuals who “appear” to be engaged in some type of illicit conversation or posting false solicitations on sites such as Craig’s List to ensnare would be customers. Using these aggressive tactics, local police departments have arrested hundreds of individuals. Retain a criminal defense lawyer who has a proven track record of defending those accused of sex crimes to defend you or a loved one.
Massachusetts criminalized prostitution under G.L. c. 272, §53A. A conviction of violating G.L. c. 272, §53A can be “punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 1 year or by a fine of not more than $500 or by both such imprisonment and fine, whether such sexual conduct occurs or not.” In most cases, however, Attorney Kevin J. Mahoney has been successful in persuading courts to dismiss these types of charges against his clients for “court costs,” usually $250-$500. If you have been charged with a sex crime, such as prostitution or soliciting for sex for a fee, contact us at 617-492-0055 or use our online contact form to arrange a free in-office consultation.
To convict an individual under G.L. c. 272, §53A, the prosecutor need not prove that the individuals engaged in sex for a fee; instead, the assistant district attorney need only prove that the individuals involved agreed to engage in sex for a fee. In fact, an individual violates the statute by indiscriminately offering to either engage in sex for a fee or to pay for sex.
Massachusetts prostitution laws do more than criminalize the conduct of the individuals exchanging sex for a fee; instead, these laws extend to those who:
Entice away an individual for prostitution (G.L. c. 272, § 2)
Induce a minor into prostitution (G.L. c. 272, §4A)
Derive income from a minor engaged in prostitution (G.L. c. 272, §4B)
Derive income from an individual engaged in prostitution (G.L. c. 272, §7)
Solicit for a prostitute (G.L. c. 272, §8)
Entice an individual to engage in prostitution (G.L. c. 272, §12)
Detain or drug a person in a place of prostitution (G.L. c. 272, §13)
Kevin J. Mahoney is a Sex Crimes Attorney in Cambridge, Massachusetts who has a nearly unmatched record of defending those accused of sex crimes. Call 617-492-0055 to schedule a free in-office consultation with Attorney Mahoney.
