Dayton Pimping/Pandering Attorney

Are you facing charges involving pimping and pandering in Dayton, OH? You could be facing serious felony charges, jail time, and significant financial penalties. You deserve an experienced Dayton pimping/pandering attorney to protect your rights. 

At Suhre & Associates, LLC, our legal team has over 100 years of experience between us. We have decades of experience helping clients in Dayton fight pimping and pandering charges–and we’re ready to help you fight for your freedom. 

If you’ve been arrested, don’t hesitate to get the legal representation you need. We offer a free consultation, so call our law offices today at (937) 531-0435 to learn more about how our lawyers in Dayton, Ohio, can fight for you.

How Suhre & Associates, LLC Can Help if You Were Arrested for Pimping/Pandering in Dayton, OH

Pimping and pandering are both classified as sex crimes in Dayton, Ohio. You might think that these crimes are less serious than rape, child pornography, or even engaging in prostitution. While the elements of the offenses are different, pimping and pandering can be just as serious, if not more so.

Ohio state prosecutors take sex offenses extremely seriously. The penalties are harsh–and you can expect the state to go after you with everything they have. When your freedom is at stake, you need an experienced Dayton criminal defense lawyer on your side.

At Suhre & Associates, LLC, our lawyers have been fighting for clients accused of serious sex offenses for decades. Our team even has a former police officer and prosecutor on our side–so we know what police and prosecutors are thinking. 

When you hire us to protect your rights, we’ll put our expertise to work in order to:

  • Thoroughly investigate to find any favorable evidence in your case
  • Help you understand the consequences of accepting or rejecting a plea bargain
  • Identify any constitutional violations during arrest, interrogation or arraignment 
  • Develop a customized defense strategy for you
  • Negotiate with the prosecutors to reach the best deal possible

We have a long history of helping clients win not guilty verdicts. If you’re facing serious pimping or pandering charges, call a Dayton criminal defense attorney to learn more about establishing an attorney client relationship today.

Overview of Pimping/Pandering Laws in Ohio

In most criminal cases, prostitution or solicitation of prostitution is a misdemeanor offense in Ohio. Pimping and pandering are much more serious felony offenses. These laws are aimed at those who profit from exploiting individuals who are engaged in prostitution. In other words, they’re designed to curb prostitution by criminalizing those who profit the most from prostitution-related offenses.

In the most general terms, “pimping” is the act of receiving another person’s earnings from prostitution, whether directly or indirectly. “Pandering” is the act of encouraging, enticing, or forcing someone to remain a prostitute–whether or not the person profits from the act.

There are a number of other terms often used to refer to these criminal offenses. Often, these offenses are referred to as “promoting prostitution” or “procuring a prostitute.” Pimping and pandering can be charged separately or together. Depending upon the facts, human trafficking charges could even be involved. 

Regardless of the terminology or specific charges you’re facing, it’s important to take these crimes seriously. A skilled defense lawyer can help you launch the strongest defense possible to protect your future.

Pandering Laws in Ohio

Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2907.23, it is a crime to:

  • Entice or solicit another person to visit a prostitute, or
  • Procure a prostitute for another person
  • Take or direct another person to any place for the purpose of patronizing a prostitute

You can be charged with pandering for enticing or soliciting another person to visit a prostitute or a brothel. You can also be charged with pandering for knowingly allowing any premises to be used for prostitution. 

Procuring prostitution is typically a first-degree misdemeanor. However, if the prostitute involved is under the age of 16, the crime is a fourth-degree felony–regardless of whether the defendant knows the prostitute’s age. If the prostitute is 16 or 17 years old, the crime is a fifth-degree felony.

Promoting Prostitution

Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2907.22, promoting prostitution is defined as knowingly:

  • Establish, maintain, operate or hold any interest in an establishment designed to be used to facilitate sexual conduct
  • Supervise, manage, or control the activities of a prostitute
  • Transport another person in order to facilitate prostitution

Promoting prostitution is a fourth-degree felony. If any of the prostitutes involves minors, the crime is elevated to a third-degree felony.

Compelling Prostitution

Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2907.21, compelling prostitution is defined as compelling another to engage in sexual activity for hire.

You can also be charged with compelling prostitution for inducing, procuring, encouraging, soliciting, requesting, or otherwise facilitating either:

  • A minor to engage in sexual activity for hire, whether or not the offender knows the person’s age
  • A person the offender believes to be a minor to engage in sexual activity for hire, whether or not the person is a minor.

It’s also illegal to pay or agree to pay a minor for engaging in sexual activity, whether through the minor’s agent or prior agreement.

“Compel” is defined to include using fear, force, duress or intimidation to overcome the victim’s will.

Compelling prostitution is a third-degree felony. If the victim was 16 or 17 years old, the charges are aggravated to second-degree felony charges. If the prostitute was younger than 16, compelling prostitution is a first-degree felony.

Solicitation

Solicitation charges can be brought independently or in connection with charges for pimping/pandering. Solicitation in Ohio is defined to include soliciting a person who is at least 18 years of age to engage in sexual activity for hire.

Typically, solicitation is a third-degree misdemeanor. However, the charges can become much more serious if any of the following aggravating factors are alleged:

  • The person solicited was a minor
  • The person solicited has a developmental disability
  • The defendant is aware that he or she has tested positive for HIV

Under these circumstances, prosecutors can charge the defendant with a fifth-degree felony or a third-degree felony.

What are the Penalties for Pimping/Pandering in Dayton, Ohio? 

Pimping and pandering are sex crimes in Ohio and across the United States. If convicted, you could face a significant prison sentence, as well as financial penalties. 

Depending upon how your charges are graded, penalties may include:

  • Third-degree misdemeanor charges: up to 60 days in jail and/or $500 in fines
  • First-degree misdemeanor charges: up to 180 days in jail and/or $1,000 in fines
  • Fifth-degree felony charges: up to 12 months in prison and/or $2,500 in fines
  • Fourth-degree felony charges: up to 18 months in prison and/or $5,000 in fines
  • Third-degree felony charges: between 9 months and 36 months in prison and/or $10,000 in fines
  • Second-degree felony charges: up to 8 years in prison and/or a $15,000 fine

Sex offenses are much more serious than your typical OVI/DUI. Conviction can also mean you’ll be required to register as a sex offender. Depending upon the exact sex crime charges, sex offender registration requirements can last a lifetime.

The experienced Dayton pimping/pandering lawyers at Suhre & Associates, LLC can help you fight to avoid these and other negative consequences. If you’ve been arrested, reach out to our law firm immediately to schedule a free case review.

What Defenses Can Be Raised if I’m Accused of Pimping/Pandering? 

You may have a number of legal defenses available if you’ve been accused of pimping or pandering. Prosecutors are required to prove every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Police and local law enforcement must follow specific rules and procedures.

Importantly, prosecutors must prove that you specifically intended to encourage someone to engage in prostitution to convict on pandering charges. If you lacked the requisite intent, you can’t be convicted.

While every case is different, the following may play a role in a strong defense strategy:

  • Lack of specific intent to engage in pimping or pandering
  • Lack of knowledge that the person involved was a prostitute 
  • False accusations
  • Mistaken identity
  • Entrapment–meaning that police pressured you into committing the crime alleged
  • Illegal searches and seizures
  • Miranda violations

When you’re arrested, you deserve all of the protections that the constitution offers. Our lawyers know how to spot constitutional violations–and we can file a motion to have any illegally obtained evidence thrown out.

Don’t sit back and wait for the prosecution to convict in state or federal court. With the help of an experienced pimping/pandering defense attorney at Suhre & Associates, LLC, it may be possible to have the charges against you dismissed or downgraded. Reach out to our lawyers today to get the legal advice you deserve.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Dayton Pimping/Pandering Attorney Today

A conviction for pimping and pandering can have lasting consequences. You could face years in prison. An experienced Dayton pimping/pandering attorney at Suhre & Associates, LLC can help you fight to obtain the best outcome possible. Contact our law firm today for a free consultation to discuss how we can help fight your charges.

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Suhre & Associates, LLC
130 W 2nd St #310
Dayton, OH 45402

(937) 531-0435

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