In Hollywood, a pimp is someone who forces someone to sell their body for sex and then takes all of their money. These Hollywood pimps are willing to beat, drug and even rape women to exert control over them. In reality, pimping is much less clear cut and even friends of prostitutes who offer them protection in exchange for a fee are still technically considered pimps. Even someone who helps a prostitute list her services on Craigslist in exchange for a percentage of the woman’s pay would be considered a pimp. That’s why anyone facing of pimping and pandering charges in California should immediately contact a Vista pimping lawyer as soon as possible.
What is Pimping and Pandering in California?
The first thing you need to understand about these terms are the legal definitions and distinctions between each term. Under California law, a pimp is someone who collects all or some of a prostitute’s pay, whether or not that person helped the prostitute solicit clients. In other words, if you helped a prostitute set up a website to attract clients or if you take 10% of a prostitute’s earnings in exchange for letting her rent a room from your home, you have worked as a pimp, even if you never did anything remotely similar to what you’ve seen pimps on TV do.
Pandering is a separate offense under California law, though these two charges are often filed together, and occurs when someone helps make someone available as a prostitute by encouraging or persuading an individual to become (or remain) a prostitute. This could involve forcing someone through threats or violence, drugging someone, lying to someone, or it could involve being honest and straight forward with someone about how you believe prostitution could improve their current situation.
In legal terms, this sound complex, but essentially, a pimp is someone who collects all or some of a prostitute’s pay and pandering occurs when someone encourages or persuades someone to become or stay a prostitute.
Pimping and Pandering Sentence
Both pimping and pandering charges are felonies, punishable by up to six years in prison and$15,000 in fines. If any prostitutes were minors, the sentence may also be increased to up to eight years and you could be forced to register as a sex offender. As you can see, it’s critical anyone accused of these crimes contact a Vista pimping attorney.
Fighting Pimping and Pandering Charges
There are many different defenses for pimping and pandering charges in California and ultimately, they will each come down to the specifics of the case. For example, if a woman accuses you of forcing her into prostitution, your sex crimes lawyer could argue that she was falsely accusing you or that there is insufficient evidence to prove the claims. Alternatively, if you take a prostitute to a client’s house and then try to talk them out of having sex for money, you are not guilty of pandering because you did not encourage or persuade her to commit a crime.
Intent is critical in these cases, so if you are collecting a portion of someone’s pay in exchange for offering security services, but are not aware that person is offering sex acts in exchange for money, you are not guilty of pimping.
Since fighting pimping and pandering charges can often be very complex, it is important you refuse to answer any police questions without speaking to a lawyer first. If you have been accused of either of these crimes, please call (760) 643-4050 or (858) 486-3024 to schedule a free consultation with Peter M. Liss.
Creative Commons Image by Haven’t the Slightest
