Charged with Sexual Exploitation? Here’s What You Need to Know.
An offense that was once called “patronizing a prostitute” has been revised to “sexual exploitation” in Seattle, making it the only jurisdiction in Washington and the US altogether to utilize this term. If convicted of this sexual exploitation in Seattle, you’re looking at a simple misdemeanor charge punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
As such, if you’ve been arrested for sexual exploitation in Seattle or Washington State, you’re probably pretty worried. It’s a scary and embarrassing situation, as a lot of officers are involved in catching suspects in “the act.” If you don’t know what to do next, you may find peace in knowing that not all hope is lost.
First of all, what is sexual exploitation?
Basically, cities are allowed to make their own code, and Seattle has made one that redefines “patronizing a prostitute,” as discussed above. With this in mind, sexual exploitation is offering or agreeing to pay a fee (or anything of value) to another person to engage in some type of sexual contact with them. Often, law enforcement will set up a sting operation by putting an ad in the back of the paper or on the internet. When the defendant meets the purported person from the ad, they realize the person is an undercover police officer. From there, an arrest is made.
So, what happens next? If you’ve been arrested for sexual exploitation, you must realize that not all of these cases get charged. Typically, a bunch of people will get arrested in a sting operation but not all will face charges. For example, if eight people contact our office and hire our lawyers to defend them in this situation, maybe five of them will get charged.
How do we know who gets charged? Our team can contact the prosecutor’s office and identify problems with each case. The prosecutor may consider a person’s record and the circumstances of their allegations. Even if the person doesn’t get charged for sexual exploitation, retaining an attorney is the best way to resolve their situation.
Legal Proceedings
If you are charged for sexual exploitation, you will likely receive a criminal complaint and summons in the mail. Keep an eye out for these documents and be careful, as you may not want anyone else in your home to know this happened.
If you hire The Law Offices of Lance Fryrear, we can monitor the status of these documents to help decrease your chance of getting surprised when this mail arrives. Once you are charged, our attorney may be able to get your first court date waived. Not only that, but we will go to court with you as many times as necessary to get the best possible result on your behalf. We will also work to make sure you don’t have to talk about your alleged crime in court to save you from feeling further embarrassment.
What are the possible results of sexual exploitation cases? It changes from time-to-time in Seattle. Sometimes, the court may offer solutions that don’t result in a conviction. However, you may have to pay hefty costs, such as mandatory fees and counseling. If your car was impounded, you will have to pay an extra fee to get your car back.
Luckily, a good attorney can work to negotiate for a favorable result that could help keep you out of jail. While you’ll have to jump through some hoops regardless of whether or not you’re convicted, Seattle often looks at sexual exploitation cases as an educational experience because from the city’s point of view, sexual exploitation is not a victimless crime.
Looking for Defense? You’ve Come to the Right Place.
Owner and principal attorney Lance Fryrear of The Law Offices of Lance Fryrear has defended the accused in Lynnwood and throughout Washington for the past 20 years. If you’re facing sexual exploitation charges, we have a good idea of what you’re going through and can build solutions to help get your case dropped. We will be sensitive and careful every step of the way, doing everything we can to help and support you.
Give us a call at (425) 224-7075 to learn more!