Prostitution
Police, prosecutors, and courts take sexual assault allegations very seriously. A prostitution charge can result in serious jail or prison time, hefty fines, and a permanent criminal record. Furthermore, you could face sex offender registration. All of this can have incredibly negative impacts on you, your family, and your future. An experienced Dallas prostitution lawyer can lead you through all this and help you avoid or lessen these very serious consequences.
Dallas Prostitution Lawyer
If you or someone you love has been accused of prostitution in Dallas, contact the Law Office of Mike Howard. Most importantly, Dallas prostitution lawyer Mike Howard has the experience, trial skills, and dedication that you need when you are fighting for your life. We will do everything we can to fight for you. Moreover, Mr. Howard will give you an honest assessment of your case and explain the law and your legal options.
A Different Kind of Lawyer
We approach our clients differently than a lot of lawyers. Above all, our philosophy is that being a great lawyer is more than getting you a great result. First, our office is centered around you. This means we start by truly listening to you to understand your case and your goals. Further, our team works to provide you a client experience that is as easy and stress-free as possible. Answering your questions and keeping you informed is very important to us. Most importantly, we treat you as a person, not a number. Finally, our goal is to achieve the best possible result for you. If you’re looking for a different kind of Dallas prostitution lawyer you’ve come to the right place.
Listen & Understand
We focus on clients as real people. First, we list to understand who you are and what you need. Then we make sure we fully understand the facts of the case.
Open Communication
We explain the law, your rights, and the legal process. Because communication is very important to us, we strive to quickly answer questions and return communication.
Fight for Justice
Simply put: we fight hard for you. In the courtroom, in negotiations, and before a case even is officially opened, we fight for justice for you.
Prostitution Charges in Dallas
Prostitution
A person commits prostitution (Texas Penal Code § 43.02) if they:
- knowingly offer or agree to receive a fee from another to engage in sexual conduct. OR
- knowingly offers or agree to pay a fee to another person for the purposes of engaging in sexual conduct.
Promotion of Prostitution
A person commits promotion of prostitution (Texas Penal Code § 43.03) if, acting other than as a prostitute themselves, they knowingly receive money or other property pursuant to an agreement to participate in the proceeds of prostitution. Soliciting another to engage in sexual conduct with another person for compensation also qualifies as promotion of prostitution.
Aggravated Promotion of Prostitution
A person commits aggravated promotion of prostitution (Texas Penal Code § 43.04) if, they knowingly own, invests in, finances, controls, supervises, or manages a prostitution enterprise that uses two or more prostitutes.
Compelling Prostitution
A person commits compelling prostitution (Texas Penal Code § 43.05) if they knowingly:
- cause another by force, threat, coercion, or fraud to commit prostitution. OR
- cause by any means a child younger than 18 years of age to commit prostitution, regardless of whether the actor knew the age of the child at the time of the offense.
Resources and Information
For more information about sex crimes generally, see our sex crime page. See our criminal defense resource center for more information from Dallas prostitution lawyer Mike Howard on fundamental rights in a criminal case, definitions of culpable mental states (intentionally, knowingly, etc), defenses to prosecution, and more.
Prostitution Charge Penalties
The punishment ranges for prostitution-related offenses vary depending on the offense and other circumstances.
Prostitution
- A first-time prostitution offense (offering or agreeing to pay) is a Class A misdemeanor. As a result, you could face up to one year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine.
- A second or more prostitution offense (offering or agreeing to pay) is a state jail felony. As a result, you could face 6 months – two years in jail and up to a $10,000 fine. However, if the other person actually is, represented themselves to be, or the actor believed them to be younger than 18 years of age, the offense is a second-degree felony. As a result, you could face2 – 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
Promotion of Prostitution
- A first promotion of prostitution offense is a third-degree felony. As a result, you could face 2 – 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. If, however, the accused has been previously convicted once of promotion of prostitution, the new offense is a second-degree felony. As a result, you could face 2 – 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. If the offense involves a person younger than 18 years of age engaging in prostitution, the offense is a first-degree felony. As a result, you could face 5 – 99 years or life in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
Aggravated Promotion of Prostitution
- Aggravated promotion of prostitution is a first-degree felony. As a result, you could face 5 – 99 years or life in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
Compelling Prostitution
- Compelling prostitution is a first-degree felony. As a result, you could face 5 – 99 years or life in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
Defending Prostitution Charges in Dallas
First and foremost, the prosecutor must prove their allegation beyond a reasonable doubt. If the prosecutor cannot rule out each and every possible reasonable doubt, the presumption of innocence prevails. As a result, the court must find you not guilty. This means you don’t have to prove that you didn’t do it. You don’t have to prove anything!
The only way the prosecution wins is if the jury believes their story is the only reasonable way it could’ve happened. If they have any reasonable doubts that it actually happened, they must find you not guilty. If they reasonably think it could’ve happened another way, they must find you not guilty. This is the highest burden of proof in our justice system. When implemented by a skilled Dallas prostitution attorney, it can be a powerful weapon.
Choosing the Right Prostitution Lawyer in Dallas
Searching for prostitution lawyers in Dallas can be overwhelming. After all, you are choosing someone who will hold your life, your future, and your family’s future in their hands. You have to be comfortable with them and feel that you can trust the information and advice they give you. Attorneys are supposed to always work in their clients’ best interest. That shouldn’t just be meaningless talk.
First, talk to several lawyers to get a feel for them and their staff. Do they take the time necessary to get to know you, to listen to what’s important to you, and answer your questions? Do they show you that you matter to them as a person and not just as a fee? Beware of lawyers who put the hard sell on you, who make big promises. No attorney should ever make a guarantee about a case. Absolutely avoid a lawyer who doesn’t communicate the scope of the work and their fee clearly in a written contract.
What Makes Mike Howard Different
Many lawyers take advantage of their clients’ ignorance of the criminal justice process. We take the opposite approach. A knowledgeable client is a happy client. Therefore, we provide a wealth of information in the way of articles about criminal offenses, blog posts, and videos for free on our website.
Visit Our YouTube Channel for informational videos and client testimonials.
Visit Our blog for posts on cases, defenses, and criminal law information.
Dallas Prostitution Attorney Mike Howard
Above all, I strive to help my clients through difficult times with compassion and integrity. In Dallas innocent people can get accused, charged, and convicted when they don’t have a Dallas prostitution attorney fighting for them. I believe in standing up for people facing criminal accusations and helping them navigate all that comes with being thrown into the criminal justice system.
Client-Centered
The cornerstone of my law practice is focusing on my clients as individuals. I start by taking the time to understand not just the facts of their case, but who they are and what they need. Because I know the criminal justice system can be intimidating, I explain the process, their rights, and their options. Client communication is extremely important to me, so I make sure my team and I do everything possible to quickly answer questions and return messages.
Willing to Fight
Most importantly, I am willing to fight a case in court. I have a track record of delivering fantastic results at trial. While not every client and case needs to go to trial, it can make a difference. When your Dallas prostitution attorney has a reputation as a skilled trial lawyer who fights for their clients, however, it can make all the difference in the world.
