Prostitution is not uncommon in America. With that said, Michigan, like most other states, is committed to enforcing prostitution, along with other sex crime laws.
This means that anyone accused or charged with prostitution will risk the possibility of jail time or fines, not to mention the personal embarrassment and stress that comes with these charges.
If you, or someone you love, have been arrested or charged with prostitution, a team of experienced Michigan criminal defense attorneys can help fight the charge.
The right lawyers can convince a judge or jury to return a “not guilty” verdict, have the charge reduced, or even get your charge dismissed altogether.
Call our toll free number today to talk to book a free consultation and learn how we can help you protect your rights.
In Michigan, prostitution is generally defined as the exchange of sex for money or other favors.
If convicted, this means that the prostitute and the customer can be equally prosecuted and face harsh penalties, depending on the specific prostitution crime they are accused of committing.
Under MCL 750.448, it’s illegal for a person over 16 years of age to accost, solicit, or invite another person in a public area, in or from a building, or in or from a vehicle for the purpose of prostitution, or to perform any other immoral or lewd act.
It doesn’t matter whether the communication was through word of mouth, gesture, or contact from text message, or voicemail, or any other electronic means.
It’s a criminal offense, under MCL 750.449, for a person over the age of 16 to receive, offer to receive, admit, or offer to admit another person into a place, house, structure, vehicle, or building for prostitution, assignation, or lewdness.
As per the same statute, it’s criminal for an individual to knowingly permit another person to remain in a place, house, structure, vehicle, or building for the purpose of engaging in prostitution and/or other illegal sexual activities.
According to MCL 750.457, it’s a criminal offense for any person to knowingly accept, receive, appropriate the proceeds of prostitution, or levy money, or any valuable thing on the proceeds, while knowing that the earnings are proceeds of the same.
It’s also criminal for any person to knowingly live off and derive support or maintenance, partially or wholly, from proceeds of another person’s prostitution, or from any monies loaned, advanced to, or charged against a prostitute.
According to MCL 750.459, it’s a criminal offense to knowingly transport, cause the transportation of, or help obtain transportation for a person, by any means, from one place to another, for the purpose of prostitution or to entice, compel, or induce the person in question to become a prostitute.
It’s also a criminal offense to knowingly sell travel services, make an offer to sell travel services, or facilitate travel for a person to engage in prostitution.
Under MCL 750.454, it’s a criminal offense for a person to let a house to a person while knowing that the tenant intends to use that house as a house of ill-fame, for lewdness, or prostitution.
Under MCL 750.452, it’s illegal for a person to operate, maintain, aid, or abet in keeping, operating, or maintaining a bawdy house, house of ill-fame, or any place or houses used for prostitution and lewdness.
Under MCL 750.458 of the Michigan penal code, it’s criminal to detain a person in a prostitution house due to any debt or debts the person in question may have accrued while staying at the house.
Under MCL 750.456, it’s a criminal offense for a person to use fraud, force, intimidation, or threat to leave or place their spouse in a prostitution house, or have them lead a life of prostitution.
It’s a criminal offense for any person over the age of 16 to help, aid, or abet a prostitute to find clients, or help anyone find a prostitute’s services. The crime of aiding or abetting a prostitute falls under MCL 750.450 of the Michigan penal code.
Under MCL 750.462, it’s a criminal offense for any person to take, employ, detain, receive or allow a person under 16 years of age to remain in a house of prostitution, or any other house in which illegal sexual activities are committed.
Regardless of the sex crime charges you face in Michigan, no matter if it’s in Wayne County or Grand Rapids, MI, you need to have a defense lawyer like Nicole Blank Becker, of Blank Law, PC, on your side.
With a Justia Lawyer Rating 10.0, you can rest assured of getting the best defense possible.
You can contact us by sending a text message or email, secure submitting a contact form, making a phone call or leaving a voicemail message, and one of our representatives at Blank Law, PC will be in contact with you immediately to book your free consultation.
Penalties for all sex crimes can be life-altering. However, when it comes to prostitution, the specific crime that is being charged often determines the punishment.
MCL 750.448 – prostitution solicitation
In Michigan, prostitution solicitation is a misdemeanor that carries a penalty of not more than 93 days in jail, a fine not exceeding $500, or both.
However, if the person had one prior conviction with prostitution, the person will be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment not exceeding one year, a fine not exceeding $1,000, or both.
If the person had two or more prior convictions with prostitution solicitation, the person could be guilty of a felony that carries a penalty of not more than two years in prison, a fine not exceeding $2,000, or both.
MCL 750.449 – admitting a person to a place for prostitution
Admitting a person to a place for prostitution in Michigan is a misdemeanor offense that carries a penalty of not more than 93 days in jail, a fine not exceeding $500, or both.
Subsequent convictions for this offense carry stiffer penalties, as provided for under MCL 750.451.
MCL 750.450 – aiding and abetting a prostitute
According to this statute, aiding and abetting a prostitute is a misdemeanor punishable by prison time not more than 93 days in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both.
The same penalties applies for individuals convicted of having a minor working at a house of prostitution (MCL 750.462).
Also, subsequent convictions with these offenses shall carry harsher penalties, as provided for in MCL 750.451.
Violation of MCL 750.458 – detaining a prostitute
A conviction for detaining a prostitute for a debt means the offender will be guilty of a felony punishable by a minimum of two years and a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Violation of MCL 750.459 (1) – transporting a person for prostitution
Transportation of individuals to have them engage in prostitution in Michigan is a felony punishable by a prison sentence not exceeding 20 years, a fine of not exceeding $20,000, or both.
Violation of MCL 750.459 (2) – transporting a person for prostitution
A conviction of knowingly selling, or offering to sell, travel services, or facilitating the travel of persons for the purpose of prostitution will have the offender facing a maximum of 5 years in prison, a fine not exceeding $5,000, or both.
However, where the offense involves a minor, the offender will be guilty of a felony carrying a penalty of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine not exceeding $15,000, or both.
Violation of MCL 754.457 – pandering and receiving earnings from a prostitute
Upon conviction for receiving earnings from a prostitute, a person will be guilty of a felony that carries a penalty of not more than 20 years in prison.
The same penalties apply for the conviction of forcing a spouse into the act of prostitution (MCL 750.456).
Violation of MCL 750.454 – leasing a house for prostitution
Upon conviction of leasing a house for prostitution, the offender will be guilty of a misdemeanor carrying a penalty of not more than six months in jail or a fine not exceeding $750.
Conviction for an act of prostitution or solicitation charges can be life-altering and must be avoided at all costs.
If you face prostitution and solicitation charges in Michigan, defense lawyer Nicole Blank Becker is your best choice. She is a highly skilled prostitution lawyer with a Justia Lawyer Rating 10.0, which is the highest rating level there is.
Whether you live in Macomb County, Wayne County, Oakland County, or any other area in Michigan, our attorney is ready to help you fight your prostitution or solicitation charges.
Nicole prioritizes the attorney-client relationship copyright, meaning all information shared with her remains confidential.
The following are some of the defense strategies our defense team could use in defending your prostitution or solicitation charges:
LET A SKILLED CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY HELP YOU WITH YOUR PROSTITUTION AND SOLICITATION CHARGES BY BOOKING A FREE CONSULTATION TODAY
Due to the complexity of defending prostitution and solicitation charges, and the possible repercussions upon conviction, it’s important to work with defense attorneys experienced in prostitution-related charges.
Attorney Nicole Blank Becker, of Blank Law, PC, is an outstanding Michigan criminal defense attorney with years of experience in Michigan state and federal law, and is the GO-TO lawyer for all sex crime charges.
With her experience as a former prosecutor in Macomb County, as the Chief of the Sex Crimes Unit, Nicole can look at your case from both sides of the law, giving you an advantage that only she can offer.
The best part is that our attorney understands the pressure, stress, and embarrassment that comes along with facing prostitution related charges. Her goal is to create an attorney-client relationship that ensures that her clients feel accepted and not stigmatized, based on their charges.
Our law firm serves all parts of Michigan, including, but not limited to: Macomb County, Wayne County, Oakland County, Ingham County, Livingston County, Lapeer County, etc.
Do not let a prostitution or solicitation conviction ruin your freedom and future. Contact Blank Law, PC law firm via text message, phone call at 248-515-6583, voicemail, the contact form online, or email to setup your free consultation and evaluation of your case today.