Pimping, Pandering and Procuring

Pimping, pandering and procuring a child under 16 years of age for lewd or lascivious acts are three different California sex crimes that will be prosecuted as felonies, which all require a convicted offender to register as a sex offender (pursuant California to Penal Code 290). To best defend against these severe charges, it is critical that the accused hires a criminal attorney who specializes in California sex crime defense, as no other lawyer will be as qualified to tackle the emotionally unique and complex issues that are frequently raised in sex crime cases.

Pimping will be charged against an individual who, knowing another was a prostitute, took or received money that was earned from the person’s prostitution or received compensation for soliciting that person. If convicted, the accused is deemed guilty of a felony and faces three, four or six years in state prison and mandatory registration as a sex offender, in accordance with Penal Code 290. If, under these circumstances, the alleged prostitute was a minor (a person under the age of 18) but over 16 years of age, the accused faces a felony, punishable by imprisonment in state prison for three, four or six years. If the alleged prostitute was a minor under 16 years old, the accused faces a felony, punishable by imprisonment in state prison for three, six, or eight years.

Pandering will be charged as a felony against an individual who procured another person for the purpose of prostitution, who threatened or otherwise persuaded another to become a prostitute, who procured for another a place in a house of prostitution and threatened or otherwise coerced or encouraged him or her to remain there, who procured another to enter or leave this state for the purpose of prostitution, or who received or gave, or agreed to receive or give, any money or thing of value for procuring, or attempting to procure, another person for the purpose of prostitution. If convicted of this offense under any of these circumstances, the accused faces state imprisonment for three, four or six years. If the defendant was accused of doing any of these things with a minor over 16 years of age, he or she would face the same penalty, but if the other person was under 16 years old, he or she would face three, six or eight years in state prison. Anyone convicted of this offense will additionally be required to register as a sex offender.

Procuring a child under the age of 16 for lewd or lascivious acts will be charged as a felony against anyone who intentionally gave, transported, provided, or made available, or who offered to give, transport, provide, or make available to another person, a child under 16 years of age for the purpose of any lewd or lascivious act, or who caused, induced, or persuaded a child under 16 years of old to engage in such an act with another person. If convicted, the accused will be imprisoned in state prison for three, six, or eight years and will be fined a maximum of $15,000. He or she will additionally be required to register as a sex offender.

It must be noted that upon conviction for any of these charges, the court may, in addition to any other penalty or fine imposed, order the defendant to pay an additional maximum fine of $5,000, which will be used to fund counseling centers and programs for victims of child sexual abuse. In setting the amount of the fine, the court will consider any relevant factors including, but not limited to, the severity of the offense, the circumstances of its commission, whether the accused financially profited from the crime and the extent to which the alleged victim suffered losses as a result of the crime.

The outstanding attorneys at The Kavinoky Law Firm know how to successfully defend their clients, as they have mastered the legal and personal complexities related to California sex crime defense. To speak to one of these passionate and dedicated attorneys, contact them at one of their many Los Angeles or State of California law offices today for a free consultation.