Per Texas Penal Code Ch 43.03, the consequences of promoting prostitution can range anywhere from a misdemeanor to a state jail felony to a second or third-degree felony, depending on the circumstances of the offense.
Promoting Prostitution
According to Ch 43.03, promoting prostitution means someone “acting other than as a prostitute receiving compensation for personally rendered prostitution services” received money or other currency (e.g., drugs) for the services or solicited someone to perform the services with other person for some form of currency. This is more commonly known as “pimping.”
This offense is typically a state jail felony. However, if the alleged perpetrator has a previous conviction under this statute, the offense is a third-degree felony. The offense is a second-degree felony if the person promoted is under 18.
Penalties for Promoting Prostitution
Penalties for a state felony in Texas may be:
- Incarceration from six months to two years in a state jail
- A fine of up to $10,000
Penalties for a third-degree felony may be:
- Incarceration in prison from two to 10 years
- A fine of up to $10,000
Penalties for a second-degree felony may be:
- Incarceration in prison from two to 20 years
- A fine of up to $10,000
Being charged with a violation of Texas Penal Code 43.03 can be frightening and overwhelming. Besides the penalties, jail time, and fines associated with these types of offenses, you may be concerned with the reaction of your family and friends to committing a crime involving prostitution.
Fighting Promotion of Prostitution Charges
If you have been charged with promoting prostitution under Texas law, there are some steps to take to make sure that your rights are protected before, during, and after the arrest. Attorneys with experience in handling these types of charges can frequently build a strong and effective defense and work to reduce the charges or have them dismissed entirely.
To obtain a conviction, the prosecutor must prove the following:
- You knowingly promoted a person as a prostitute;
- You received a fee or some type of currency for the act of prostitution to occur; and
- The intent to commit the act, or the commission of the act, must have occurred.
Our job is to prove at least one of these are false.
An Attorney Can Help
Given the consequences of a conviction for prostitution, you may want to hire an attorney who can help you build a strong defense. If you plead guilty because you believe that you have no defense against the charges against you, you will lose the opportunity to fight the charges. You may assume that pleading guilty will get the whole ordeal over with faster. Although it may, the ongoing repercussions from having a criminal record will not be over quickly.
To prove your guilt, all components of the crime must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt by the prosecution. We will fight to get your charges dismissed before going to trial or negotiate with the prosecution to have your charges reduced to a misdemeanor.
If you have been charged with a violation of Texas Penal Code Ch 43.03, call the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg at (214) 696-9253. His three decades of experience as a prosecutor, state district judge, and criminal defense lawyer gives him a unique and all-encompassing perspective on criminal defense law.
