Prostitution and sex crimes charges can be devastating to a person’s reputation, freedom, and future.
It is imperative that you understand the seriousness of these charges and how they can affect you. A prostitution and sex crime lawyer in Rockwall can protect your legal rights, mount a vigorous defense, and ensure you make the right choices.
At the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg, Attorney Randall Isenberg will fight for you and your future. Contact us today to speak to a sex crimes and prostitution lawyer: 214-696-9253.
What Are the Laws for Prostitution and Sex Crimes in Rockwall?
Texas Penal Code, in Title 9, Chapter 43, establishes the basis of Rockwall prostitution and sex crimes:
Prostitution/Solicitation
If you engage in sexual conduct in exchange for something of value — which can be currency, drugs, or anything of value — the law says you have committed solicitation and prostitution. No actual sexual activity (or even physical contact) must occur. Simply offering or agreeing to the act will land you in jail, even if you exchanged no money or item of value.
Promoting Prostitution
Charges for promoting prostitution, also known as pandering or pimping, can result from arranging a transaction or simply sharing in the money or item of value exchanged or agreed upon.
Other Sex Crime Charges
Other activities eligible for sex crime charges in Rockwall include disorderly conduct, indecent exposure, public indecency or lewdness, possession of child pornography, sexual assault, and aggravated sexual assault.
Each of these offenses carries the potential for a Texas misdemeanor or felony charge, depending on whether you have past convictions.
A prostitution and sex crimes lawyer can explain your charges and all possible options, to help you make the best choice for your future.
What Are the Penalties for Prostitution and Sex Crimes in Rockwall, TX?
For a first solicitation or prostitution offense in Rockwall, you will face a Class B misdemeanor charge. However, if you have prior convictions on your record, you will face either Class A misdemeanor charges or potentially even a felony charge, depending on your prior convictions.
You will also face more serious charges if you solicited a person below the age of 18.
The charges become even more serious if you engaged in the crime of prostitution enterprise — more commonly known on the street as pimping or pandering — you could face a third-degree felony charge. If one of the alleged prostitutes in the enterprise was younger than age 18, you could face a first-degree felony.
Whatever charge the prosecutor elects to pursue, these are the basic penalties that you will face for each.
Criminal Charge |
Rockwall Sex Crimes Attorney Near Me
Monetary Fine |
Jail or Prison Sentence |
Misdemeanor – Class B |
$2,000 | As long as 6 months in jail |
Misdemeanor – Class A |
$4,000 | As long as 1 year in jail |
Felony – State Jail |
$10,000 | 6 months to 2 years in jail or state prison |
Felony – Third-Degree |
$10,000 | 2 to 10 years in prison |
Felony – Second-Degree |
$10,000 | 2 to 20 years in prison |
Felony – First-Degree |
$10,000 | 5 to 99 years or life in prison |
After serving their time in prison or jail, and paying fines, court costs, and fees, most convicted sex criminals must register as a sex offender.
When Do I Have to Register as a Sex Offender?
If you plead guilty, or if a jury finds you guilty, of prostitution or sex crimes in Rockwall, the law mandates that you register as a sex offender in almost all cases. The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure (TCCP) details these requirements in Chapter 62, Subchapter B, Registration and Verification.
Your registration will appear in the sex offender database hosted on the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) website, as well as on the Rockwall County site. Registrant information appears also on the Rockwall Police Department site, accompanied by an interactive community sex offender map, which uses a yellow pin to indicate place of residence.
To determine the requirements of your registration, the state will conduct an evaluation of your potential threat level. The seven-member evaluation committee has the authority to pose any type of questions to you, each of which you must answer.
If the evaluation committee determines that you must register, the law requires that you remain registered for at least 10 years. In many cases, however, you must remain registered for the rest of your life.
As a registered sex offender, potential landlords and employers may have the legal right to discriminate against you. This means you may struggle to find work or a place to live. Your conviction will preclude you from holding many types of professional licenses and, if yours was a felony conviction, you may lose the right to own or possess a firearm.
How Can a Prostitution or Sex Crime Lawyer in Rockwall Help Me?
There are many ways your lawyer can help you during this challenging time.
Many accused sex offenders elect to plead guilty rather than face the embarrassment of calling a lawyer and potentially going to court. But, once they discover the depth of the consequences, they realize they made the wrong choice.
Just because the prosecutor charges you with solicitation, prostitution, or another sex crime does not guarantee a guilty verdict — far from it, in fact. Your lawyer knows that prosecutors depend on the fact that many defendants choose to plead guilty, even when they should not, rather than fight their charges.
A prostitution and sex crime attorney will dig into every bit of available evidence, to identify potential weaknesses in the case. Those weaknesses may provide invaluable leverage for negotiating with the prosecutor for a reduction or dismissal of charges. And, if we can get started before the prosecutor files charges, it may be possible to persuade the prosecutor to not file charges at all.
If necessary, we can build a strong case for your defense and represent you in court. The prosecutor’s burden of proof is high, and he is counting on the fact that you will not fight your case all the way to court.
Never provide a statement or answer questions without your lawyer present and never accept any deal that the police or prosecutor offers you without talking to a sex crime lawyer first.
Talk to a Prostitution and Sex Crimes Lawyer in Rockwall Today
Whether the prosecutor has already pressed charges or still has you under investigation, time is of the essence. The sooner you can speak to a lawyer, the better your chances are for a more favorable resolution.
In Rockwall, Attorney Randall Isenberg can put his 30+ years experience to work for you today. His experience as a prostitution and sex crimes lawyer is enhanced by his background as a judge and felony prosecutor, providing the knowledge you need on your side.
Call the Law Office of Randall B. Isenberg at 214-696-9253 — we are standing by to help.
