Being accused of asking, paying, or encouraging someone else to commit a criminal act is a serious offense – and often involves requesting sexual services. You may worry about how this will affect your life in the future and what you can do to defend yourself.
Depending on the circumstances that led to the charge, you may face anywhere from a felony to a misdemeanor and have to pay fines or go to jail if you are convicted. You have every right to work with a public defender; however, hiring a reputable private criminal defense attorney who could prioritize your case may be beneficial.
An Orange County solicitation lawyer could meet with you to discuss what led to your arrest and gather crucial evidence to build a defense. We could comb through the record and criminal laws to find creative avenues to argue in favor of reducing the charges against you or dismissing them entirely.
As outlined in Florida Statutes § 777.04, solicitation is when you encourage, bribe, order, or ask someone to do something that is illegal. Conduct can fall under the umbrella of soliciting even though the crime was not actually committed. In other words, if the person tries to solicit sex and either fails to do so or does not complete the action, they may still incur a solicitation charge.
In most cases, you may not be found guilty of this offense unless you specifically ask a person to perform an illegal action. Joking about doing something unlawful may not qualify. However, if the accused sends someone a text saying they will pay them for sexual favors, this could be used in court.
When you are accused of soliciting another person to do something illegal, an Orange County attorney may be an excellent resource to help you identify and protect your rights. A lawyer could gather and review the available evidence and look for potential weaknesses in the government’s case against you.
The consequences of a solicitation conviction depend on the crime that was requested in the act. For example, a bribe to commit murder, a capital crime, could be charged as a first-degree felony. If the judge or jury finds you guilty of this offense, you may be looking at up to 30 years in prison and a fine of $10,000 or more, per Fla. Stat. § 775.082 and § 775.083.
Likewise, if you receive a conviction because you asked someone to carry out a misdemeanor, such as a crime involving drugs, driving under the influence, or shoplifting, the court may classify your actions as a second-degree misdemeanor. The punishment for this might include 60 days of jail time and a $500 monetary penalty. If you have a prior record, the government may try to increase the charge or sentence against you.
Having responsive and steadfast legal support from the beginning could help you properly exercise your interests and preserve any defenses you may have available. A hardworking solicitation lawyer in Orange County could file objections to specific actions that would make it more challenging for you to present a fruitful defense during the trial.
Being arrested for a charge of soliciting someone to have sex for money, or to commit a crime could have severe negative implications for your future. If convicted, you may face significant time behind bars and lose child custody rights, housing, or driving privileges.
Rather than going up against the full force of the prosecution by yourself or with a public defender, consider the potential advantages of working with a private criminal defense attorney.
The Umansky Law Firm fully considers the concerns our clients have when they are accused of the crime of solicitation. When you are in this situation, reach out to an Orange County solicitation lawyer on our team to schedule an initial consultation. We could help you by preparing and presenting a solid defense to help secure a favorable outcome in your case.
The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys
