Pimping is a crime that is classified as a felony in California. It carries with it serious sanctions and penalties. When a person is charged with the crime of pimping or the related crime of pandering, the first thing that they need to do is contact an experienced criminal defense attorney who will zealously defend their rights and their freedom in a criminal court.
The Law of Pimping
The felony crime of Pimping consists of:
- Living off or deriving some income from the earnings of prostitution and from who the person knows to be a prostitute; or
- Soliciting, or receiving money for soliciting prostitution, for a person whom the defendant knows to be a prostitute
Prostitution requires physical contact between the prostitute and the customer. Without the physical contact, there is no prostitution, and thus no crime of pimping. The requirement that the pimp make a living off the prostitute's earnings is satisfied by the receipt of even the smallest amount of money from a prostitute of her earnings.
The prosecution cannot charge a person for multiple crimes for separate acts of pimping. One instance of pimping may comprise several incidents, but can result in only one criminal charge being filed.
Because of the way the criminal laws are written it is not an easy task for a prosecutor to convict a person of pimping. Proving that a person is involved in the criminal act of pimping is not easy. That is why it is crucial to hire a criminal defense attorney who is experienced in the field.
The crime of pimping is closely related to the crime of Pandering. This is covered on this site as well. Pandering.
Punishment for Pimping
Pimping is a felony crime that may be punishable by three, four, or six years in the state prison. If the prostitute involved in the pimping operation is less than 16 years old, pimping may be punishable by imprisonment in state prison for three, six, or eight years, as well as by a $5,000 fine.
Although the criminal law does not allow probation for a person convicted of the crime of pimping, the criminal law does not prohibit probation for a person convicted of conspiracy to commit pimping. Thus a criminal defense attorney may try to negotiate a lesser charge for a person to avoid prison time.
Getting You Out of Severe Penalties
As we stated earlier the prosecution has a tough burden to prove that a person is guilty of the crime of pimping. Pimping is not easy to prove. A criminal defense attorney's job is to make it as difficult as possible on the government to prove their case against his client.
The most important thing a person can do when they are being charged with the crime of pimping is to remain silent and request to speak with an attorney. The earlier you hire a criminal defense attorney, the better your chances are of avoiding prison time, expensive fines and other drastic penalties. Call the Los Angeles offices of Sigal Law Group today for a free consultation. Call Toll Free at (888) 335-6008.