San Antonio Prostitution Lawyer

Compassionate Legal Representation in Bexar County

When it comes to heavy legal matters like crimes of prostitution, you deserve a dedicated and knowledgeable team of attorneys in your corner. Our women-led law firm knows how to put up a convincing fight in court; we approach every case with passion and professional skill, and one of our main goals in every case is to fight for dismissal.

Is Prostitution Legal in Texas?

Prostitution (exchanging sex for money or other items of value) and patronizing (paying someone for sex) are both illegal in Texas. By legal definition, a person commits an offense of prostitution if, in return for receipt of a fee, the person knowingly:

  • offers to engage, agrees to engage, or engages in sexual conduct; or
  • solicits another in a public place to engage with the actor in a sexual conduct for hire.

Be aware that an offense is established under the law regardless of whether the actor is offered or actually receives the fee.

It is also illegal to pimp or promote prostitution in Texas. By definition, a person commits an offense of pimping or promoting if, acting other than as a prostitute receiving compensation for personally performed prostitution services, they knowingly:

  • receive money or other property pursuant to an agreement to participate in the proceeds of prostitution; or
  • solicit another to engage in sexual conduct with another person for compensation.

A person may further be charged with “aggravated promotion” if they knowingly own, invest in, finance, control, supervise, or manage a prostitution enterprise that uses two or more prostitutes.

A more serious offense, the act of “compelling prostitution,” includes causing another to commit prostitution by force, threat, or fraud; or causing a child younger than 18 years of age to commit prostitution by any means, regardless of whether they know the age of the child at the time they allegedly committed the offense.

What are the Penalties for Prostitution in Texas?

The fines and jail time that apply to a person’s conviction will depend on the nature of the conduct and severity of the offense. A crime of prostitution will fall under the following class of misdemeanors and felonies:

  • Class B misdemeanor for prostitution or solicitation (if no aggravating factors are present) – punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000
  • Class A misdemeanor for pimping or if perpetrator has previous convictions for prostitution or solicitation – punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000
  • State jail felony if perpetrator has 3 or more previous convictions for prostitution or solicitation or for repeat offense of pimping – punishable by 6 months to 2 years in a state jail facility and a fine of up to $10,000
  • Third degree felony for owning, financing, controlling, or managing a prostitution enterprise with 2 or more prostitutes – punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000
  • Second degree felony if the person solicited is younger than 18 years old (regardless of whether the perpetrator knew at the time); if the perpetrator believed the person solicited was younger than 18; for pimping the services of someone younger than 18; or for compelling a child younger than 18 to commit prostitution – punishable by 2-20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000

Contact Our Prostitution Lawyer Today

If you have been accused of a crime related to prostitution, you and an attorney have a few possible arguments to defend against a charge. Some defenses could be claiming:

  • intoxication;
  • entrapment (i.e. by an undercover police officer);
  • duress (the defendant was under threats of bodily harm if they did not commit the sexual contact for a fee);
  • no money was received for the sexual contact;
  • lack of knowledge.

Our attorneys at the Krause Law Firm could take a look at your case and determine your best next steps to fight against an accusation of prostitution in San Antonio. No one should be wrongfully or unfairly convicted, and you can count on our firm to deliver ethical and empathetic legal representation as we fight for mitigated charges or even a dismissal of your charges.