Georgia Prostitution Defense Lawyer
While many people see prostitution as a victimless crime, it is still very much illegal in Georgia. If you are arrested for prostitution, you need to hire an experienced sex crimes attorney immediately. While this offense is charged as a misdemeanor, a conviction can still have serious repercussions for your future
What Is Georgia Prostitution Law?
Georgia's statute on prostitution (O.C.G.A. 16-6-9) declares that a person commits this crime when “he or she performs or offers or consents to perform a sexual act, including but not limited to sexual intercourse or sodomy, for money or other items of value.”
Thus, even if a sexual act has not taken place, if a person “offers or consents to” the act in exchange for something of value, he or she may be guilty of prostitution. Furthermore, the exchange does not have to involve money, merely “items of value.”
Masturbation For Hire
Georgia has another, related, crime called masturbation for hire (O.C.G.A. 16-6-16). This law states, “A person, including a masseur or masseuse, commits the offense of masturbation for hire when he erotically stimulates the genitals or organ of another, whether resulting in orgasm or not, by manual or other bodily contact exclusive of sexual intercourse or by instrumental manipulation for money or the substantial equivalent thereof.”
Giving Massages In Places Used For Prostitution
Massage therapists can also be arrested for giving completely professional massages – if they do so in a place used for prostitution. The Georgia statute (O.C.G.A. 16-6-17) makes it a crime for “any masseur or masseuse to massage any person in any building, structure, or place used for the purpose of lewdness, assignation, prostitution, or masturbation for hire.”
Penalties for Prostitution in Georgia
All of these prostitution-related offenses are considered misdemeanors. A conviction carries a punishment of up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
However, if you are found guilty of committing prostitution within 1,000 feet of any school, place of worship, playground, or recreation center primarily used by children under seventeen, the fine goes up to $2,500.
How A Criminal Defense Team Can Help
At the Berry Law Group, we have experience working for those charged with sex crimes. We are aware of the most effective ways to defend against unfair prostitution charges. For example, if a client was arrested by an undercover police officer during a prostitution sting, we would examine whether entrapment occurred. If a person is induced to commit a crime that he or she would not have otherwise committed – and the idea and intention of the crime originated with the police officer – that person is a victim of entrapment.
If you have been accused or charged with a crime, it is important that you consult with an attorney as soon as possible. Contact the Berry Law Group for a free consultation. We will review the particulars of your case and offer an assessment on the best way forward.