Understanding How Prostitution Charges Can Be Elevated
Do you know there’s a legal separation between different kinds of prostitution? Well, my name is Aaron Grubb, and I’m the Tahlequah criminal attorney at Wirth Law Office. In this video, we’re just going to talk about some aggravating factors that can elevate a misdemeanor prostitution charge to a felony charge.
For this to happen, a District Attorney (DA) has the discretion whether or not to charge defendants with certain crimes. A lot of the time, it depends on the presence of aggravating factors. The baseline charge is typically prostitution, but certain circumstances can increase the severity of the charges.
Triggers That Influence Misdemeanor Charges Into Felonies
One significant aggravating factor is if the act or crime was committed within a thousand feet of a school or church. In terms of penalties, a misdemeanor prostitution charge comes with a minimum statutory sentence of 30 days and a maximum of one year, along with a fine ranging from $200 to $2,500.
However, if the charge is aggravated to a felony, the consequences become much more severe. In those cases, the maximum statutory sentence can escalate to five years, with fines that may still reach $2,500. Understanding these distinctions is crucial if you’re facing such charges.
Get Expert Legal Help Today
If you have questions about whether your charge is being escalated to a felony or if you have a pending criminal case, please contact the Tahlequah felony attorney here at Wirth Law Office. We can help you navigate through this challenging period. Call us today at (918) 458-2677 for a low-cost initial strategy session.
