As former Florida prosecutors, we’ve tried hundreds of cases and bring a rare insider’s perspective to every defense. We understand how cases are built on both sides, which helps us negotiate more effectively, positioning each case for the strongest possible outcome.
Florida law makes it illegal for people to provide, receive, or request to receive sexual or lewd services for money. If you face a prostitution charge, you may have many questions and are unsure where to turn. Help is available from our experienced defense attorneys so you do not have to fight these charges alone.
An Orlando prostitution lawyer can make a difference in the outcome of a case. Our team has valuable experience helping individuals defend against the charges and limit the potential consequences.
Florida law defines prostitution as the exchange of money for using someone’s body for sexual or lewd purposes, whether that is the person receiving or giving the money. Included in the legal definition of sex is the touching, fondling, or penetration of the genitals or the anus with an object, hand, genitals, or another body part. If the charge involves touching or fondling, the prosecution typically must prove that the touching was for the purpose of masturbation.
The law also bans lewdness, broadly defined as an indecent or obscene act. It even goes a step further and makes it illegal to set up an appointment with someone to receive sexual or lewd services, regardless of whether the people involved go through with the arrangement. The prosecution may also charge someone with a crime if they knowingly rent or provide a space for others to engage in prostitution.
Prostitution lawyers in Orlando are familiar with the sometimes-technical legal definitions used by prosecutors and the court. They could help someone accused of a crime understand the charges against them and devise a strategy to defend their rights.
Florida law increases the penalties for a prostitution charge based on the type of offense, who was involved, the number of previous violations, and the individual’s criminal record. For example, if this is the first time the court finds that person guilty of prostitution, the accused may receive a lower misdemeanor charge. Those with prior convictions may face a higher felony charge.
The court may also require a convicted person to participate in a community service program. Likewise, they may need to attend educational programs about the impacts of prostitution and human trafficking on those involved and on the surrounding community. Finally, the court may ask the person to pay fines or serve a prison sentence.
If someone faces a prostitution charge, they may benefit from having an advocate who can provide on-point and nonjudgmental legal services. Orlando attorneys who practice prostitution defense can lend an unbiased ear to determine what occurred and fight for their client’s rights.
Someone accused of prostitution has legal avenues they can use to defend against the charges. For example, they can explain that the sexual contact was for bona fide medical purposes or between two consenting adults without the exchange of money.
Other defenses might be to attack the basis of the charges, such as by indicating they did not make, intend to make, or follow through on an agreement for sexual or lewd services. For example, the person might say they thought they were making an appointment for a legal exotic dancing club or massage parlor, not illegal prostitution. In some cases, an accused might argue that undercover law enforcement convinced them to engage in something they did not freely or knowingly agree to do.
Prostitution cases, and the defenses available to the accused, can rely heavily on the facts involved in the charge. An Orlando attorney regularly helps people navigate these uncharted waters and fiercely fights for them in court.
Florida law separately criminalizes the act of asking, agreeing, or offering to exchange money for sexual services, so you could face charges even if nothing beyond a conversation or a proposed arrangement ever took place. Whether officers can prove an actual agreement was reached will often becomes a central issue in these cases.
Officers with the Orlando Police Department sometimes pose as buyers or sellers of sexual services in order to build a case before making an arrest. Because these operations rely heavily on recorded conversations, text exchanges, or brief verbal exchanges, the specific wording used during that interaction can end up shaping how strong or weak the resulting charge really is.
A prostitution-related conviction typically remains part of your public record unless you later qualify to have it sealed, and many employers, landlords, and licensing boards run background searches that would reveal it. Exploring every available option before a case reaches a conviction can matter a great deal down the line.
Certain offenses involving “moral turpitude” can carry consequences for noncitizens, including complications with visa renewals, green card applications, or naturalization proceedings. When immigration status factors into your circumstances, that concern should be discussed with your attorney immediately so that it can be a factor in shaping your defense.
Your case is evaluated on its own, separate from any trafficking allegations made against someone else involved in the same situation. If evidence suggests you were coerced, controlled, or financially exploited by that other person, prosecutors may treat you as a potential victim rather than pursue a prostitution charge against you at all. On the other hand, if the facts show you acted independently and without any trafficking indicators present, your case would move forward as a standalone prostitution matter unaffected by the more serious charge filed against the other person.
Eligibility for sealing or expunging a record like this depends on how your case resolves and what your prior history looks like, since the rules differ depending on whether you were convicted, had adjudication withheld, or had the case dismissed outright. Understanding your options early gives you a clearer picture than waiting until after the fact.
Certain locations can trigger enhanced charges or additional scrutiny, such as arrangements alleged to have taken place near a school, place of worship, or other designated area. Knowing exactly where an incident is claimed to have happened can end up playing a meaningful role in how the charge is framed from the outset.
Defending yourself against prostitution charges is not likely to result in success. Hiring a dependable attorney can provide much-needed relief and confidence during this time of your life.
The Umansky Law Firm has extensive knowledge of this area of law and will listen to your story. Contact an Orlando prostitution lawyer on our team to schedule a consultation.
The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys
The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys
