Patronizing prostitutes is a serious felony charge in Wisconsin. Contact us at (414) 270-0202 for aggressive representation.
Simply remaining in a place of prostitution with the intent to have sex or sexual contact with a prostitute is certainly a crime. It’s called patronizing prostitutes. The charge is serious. Your first two offenses count as a Class A misdemeanor. Class A misdemeanors carry a maximum penalty of 9 months in jail, $10,000.00 in fines, or both. After your second offense, the penalty for patronizing prostitutes increases to a Class I felony, which carries a maximum possible penalty of 3.5 years in prison, $10,000.00 in fines, or both. That 3.5 years prison breaks down into 1.5 years initial confinement and 2 years in prison. Certainly these are very serious penalties and should encourage you to hire a top criminal defense attorney.
Secondly, along with the serious penalties that impact your liberty and your financial livelihood, prostitution charges carry a negative stigma. Your charge could end up on the news. Friends, family members, and co-workers might begin to say things or treat you differently. All of these reasons are why hiring a top criminal defense attorney to fight your case makes sense.
Thirdly, at Van Severen Law Office our entire practice is dedicated to criminal defense. If you have a prostitution charge, a sexual assault charge, or any other kind of criminal charge, we can help. We dedicate 100% of our practice to criminal defense. We’re certainly not general practice lawyers. Instead, we’re specialists.
Finally, contact Van Severen Law Office today at (414) 270-0202. Let’s start fighting your case together.
What is patronizing a prostitute?
This crime is literally a “being in the wrong place” at the wrong time situation. (And never use those words in court.) Section 944.31 of the Wisconsin Statutes describes the offense:
Except [in situations involving patronizing a child], any person who enters or remains in any place of prostitution with intent to have nonmarital sexual intercourse or to commit an act of sexual gratification, in public or in private, involving the sex organ of one person and the mouth or anus of another, masturbation or sexual contact with a prostitute is guilty…
The statute is clear. Simply remaining in a place that prostitution is practiced, with the intent to commit any kind of sexual intercourse or sexual gratification, is a crime. For example: a house is used for the purpose of prostitution. Defendant goes to that house with the intent to have sexual intercourse with a prostitute. This scenario certainly fulfills the definition of patronizing prostitutes.
Thirdly, what are the elements of the offense?
All crimes have elements. An element is a part of an offense. The government must prove each element of each crime at trial. Patronizing prostitutes is no different.
Firstly, the defendant entered or remained in a place of prostitution; and
Secondly, the defendant entered or remained in the place with intent to have nonmarital sexual intercourse, commit an act of sexual gratification, in public or in private, involving the sex organ of one person and the mouth or anus of another, commit an act of masturbation, or to have sexual contact with a prostitute.
A prostitute is a person who intentionally engages in sexual intercourse or other sexual acts for anything of value. A place of prostitution means any place where persons habitually engage in or offer to engage in nonmarital acts of sexual intercourse or sexual contact for anything of value.
Simply remaining in a place used for prostitution could lead to criminal charges. Patronizing prostitutes charges are serious. Contact the experts at (414) 270-0202.
How do we defend my patronizing prostitutes case?
As you’ve probably already noticed, there’s something difficult about this charge for the government. Fine, they found you in a prostitution house. There’s certainly prostitutes around. And there’s certainly other people around you engaging in the use of prostitutes. But how does the government know you had the intent to actually engage in an act of prostitution? Can they read your mind? Of course not. Frequently we need to look to the circumstances surrounding your case to determine whether the intent element exists in your case. Otherwise, that’s a great first place to start planning your defense.
Obviously cases like this frequently involve the statements of the defendant. Did you admit to the offense? If you were the subject of custodial interrogation, and police didn’t properly read your rights, we may file a motion challenging the admission of your statement. Even if that succeeds, did you provide a false confession? All of these issues are certainly important when examining your statement and the criminal case surrounding it. (Oh, and if you haven’t provided the police a statement, don’t. Assert your right to silence.)
Contact Van Severen Law Office for sex crime defense
Patronizing prostitutes is a crime in Wisconsin. It’s a rather aggravated offense, considering the fact that it’s either a high-level misdemeanor or a low-level felony. Along with the government trying to take your freedom and your money, there are other issues in a case like this. You are charged with a crime that could incur unfair judgment from friends, family, and co-workers.
At Van Severen Law Office our entire focus is on winning your case. We want you to achieve positive results so you can return to living your normal life without the government hanging over you. We recognize how scary this can be, and we simply want to help.
If you’re charged with patronizing prostitutes, or any other kind of sexual crime, contact us immediately. You can reach our criminal defense attorneys 24/7 at (414) 270-0202.
