More than 30 people were arrested in a Los Angeles County undercover prostitution sting involving female officers pretending to be sex workers. According to a CBS News report, the operation was conducted from 4 a.m. March 7, 2012 till 12 a.m. March 8, 2012 in Sun Valley on Lankershim Boulevard between San Fernando Road and Neenach Street. Among the many people arrested for soliciting prostitution is a 42-year-old man who works for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. In addition to facing criminal charges, he has already been put on unpaid administrative leave during the proceedings.
According to California Penal Code Section 647: “Every person who commits any of the following acts is guilty of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor: (b) who solicits or who agrees to engage in or who engages in any act of prostitution. A person agrees to engage in an act of prostitution when, with specific intent to so engage, he or she manifests an acceptance of an offer or solicitation to so engage, regardless of whether the offer or solicitation was made by a person who also possessed the specific intent to engage in prostitution.”
It is common for individuals facing a disorderly persons or a misdemeanor charge to not take it seriously and fail to get quality legal representation. A conviction for lewd behavior or prostitution in California can result in heavy fines and jail time. Additionally, individuals accused of prostitution related charges might experience social and professional consequences.
The skilled sex crime defense attorneys in Los Angeles at Sitkoff & Hanrahan have a long and successful track record of fighting against sex crime charges in Los Angeles. If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime related to prostitution or lewd behavior, please do not hesitate to call our offices at (866) 430-8383 for a free consultation and case assessment.