Being arrested for solicitation can feel overwhelming. You may feel anxious about the charges, worried about your reputation, and uncertain about your future. The consequences of a conviction extend far beyond fines and possible jail time—they could affect your career, family, and standing in the community. Working with an experienced criminal defense attorney could make a big difference for your future.
Contact a Jacksonville solicitation lawyer from the Law Offices of Jason K.S. Porter, P.A., for help protecting your rights and building a strong defense.
What Counts as Solicitation?
Under state law, solicitation typically refers to offering money, goods, or something else of value in exchange for sexual activity. A typical example is offering payment for prostitution. However, solicitation charges may also arise in broader contexts, such as online communications or sting operations conducted by law enforcement agencies.
Solicitation is often classified as a misdemeanor; however, aggravating circumstances may result in more severe charges. For example, soliciting near schools, parks, or places of worship can lead to harsher penalties. Repeat offenses may be charged more severely, sometimes as felonies. Related charges, such as lewd conduct or unlawful use of a communication device, may be added.
Because the penalties for solicitation vary with the details, working with a local lawyer in Jacksonville helps ensure that you understand the specific charges and possible consequences you may face.
Potential Penalties and Collateral Consequences
The legal penalties for a solicitation conviction may include jail time or probation, fines and court costs, mandatory education or treatment programs, and community service. The impacts could affect other areas of your life as well, including:
- Employment: Many employers conduct background checks, and solicitation charges raise red flags
- Professional licenses: Doctors, nurses, teachers, and other licensed professionals may risk losing their credentials
- Family law issues: If you are involved in custody or divorce proceedings, a conviction may affect the outcome
- Immigration status: Non-citizens could face immigration consequences, including denial of naturalization or removal proceedings
A seasoned solicitation attorney in Jacksonville could work to reduce or avoid these consequences by challenging the evidence or negotiating alternative resolutions.
Defense Strategies in Solicitation Cases
Each case is unique, but common defense strategies include entrapment, insufficient evidence, and mistaken identity. Law enforcement must follow strict procedures in sting operations. If you were pressured or induced into committing the offense, entrapment may apply. Because the state has the burden of proof, weak or vague evidence may not hold up in court. In some cases, surveillance or digital evidence can be unreliable or misinterpreted. For first offenses, diversion programs or reduced charges may be possible. Our Jacksonville solicitation attorneys could carefully examine the facts, challenge improper police conduct, and build a strategy designed to protect your future.
Why Choose the Law Offices of Jason K.S. Porter, P.A.?
When you face solicitation charges, experience matters. At the Law Offices of Jason K.S. Porter, P.A., we bring decades of combined criminal defense experience and a deep understanding of how prosecutors handle cases.
We know this may feel like the most challenging moment of your life, but you do not have to face it alone. The role of our solicitation lawyers in Jacksonville is to give you some of the certainty you need by guiding you through the legal process.
Speak With a Solicitation Attorney in Jacksonville Today
If you have been charged with solicitation, now is the time to act. A Jacksonville solicitation lawyer from our firm could defend your rights, challenge the evidence, and pursue the best possible outcome for your case.
Your future is too important to leave to chance. Call the Law Offices of Jason K.S. Porter, P.A., today to schedule your free consultation and begin building your defense. Problems? Pick Porter!™