Practice Areas

• Accessory After the Fact
• Arson
• Assault & Battery
• Battery on a Peace Officer
• Assault with a Firearm
• Battery
• Assault with a Deadly Weapon
• Bail Review & Reduction
• Carrying a Concealed Weapon
• Child Endangerment
• Conspiracy
• Criminal Threats
• Domestic Violence
• Driving with A Suspended License
• Drug Possession
• Marijuana Possession for Sales
• Drug Possession for Personal Use
• Drug Possession for Sale
• DUI Defense
• I've been arrested for DUI. What happens to my Driver's License?
• DUI Under 21
• The 'Rising Blood Alcohol' Defense
• Attacking the Breath Test
• The "No Driving" Defense
• I've been arrested & cited for DUI? What happens next?
• Attacking the Blood Test
• Elder Abuse
• Embezzlement
• Expungements
• Hit and Run
• Housing Violations
• Juvenile Defense
• License Defense
• Nursing License Defense
• Murder
• Police Misconduct Litigation
• Pre-Filing Investigations
• Professional & Vocational License Defense
• Public Intoxication
• Sex Crimes
• Indecent Exposure
• Solicitation of Prostitution
• Rape
• Theft Charges
• Robbery
• Purse Snatching
• Burglary
• Petty Theft
• Embezzlement
• Identity Theft
• Three Strikes Law
• Vacating Convictions
• Deportable Offenses: Vacating Your Guilty Plea to Avoid Deportation
• Vandalism
• Vehicular Manslaughter
• Warrant Recall
• Weapons Charges
• Witness Intimidation

Prostitution

How much experience does McGregor & Ernenwein have defending against prostitution charges?
Our South Bay cities criminal defense lawyers, Torrance criminal defense lawyers, Lomita prostitution defense lawyers have a combined experience of over half-a-century (50+ years) defending persons accused of violation California Penal Code Section 647(b), commonly known as "Prostitution."  Robert Ernenwein is a Board Certified Criminal Law Expert, Bruce McGregor is AV-Rated in Legal Ability by Martindale-Hubbell, both attorneys are former prosecutors and have been named "Super Lawyers" for several years. Lorgio Coimbra is an experienced criminal defense attorney with an immigration law background, for those clients facing potential deportation consequences.  We are experienced Prostitution Defense Lawyers in Torrance, Lomita and other South Bay Cities.

A related offense that we defend against is Solicitation of Prostitution.

How serious is a conviction for prostitution?
The act of prostitution can carry up to six (6) months in County Jail and up to $1,000 in fines.  Prostitution is also "priorable," which means a conviction for this crime can be used to enhance the penalty of a future criminal conviction.

What must the government show to prove that I am guilty of prostitution?
In order for a jury to find you guilty of prostitution, in violation of California Penal Code section 647(b), the prosecution must prove:

1) you willfully engaged in sexual intercourse or a lewd act with someone else

2) in exchange for money (or some other compensation).

A lewd act occurs when the defendant has touched the genitals, buttocks or female breast of either the prostitute or the customer with some part of the other person's body. Further, the touching must be for the purpose of sexually arousing or gratifying either person.  Someone does this willfully when he or she does it either willingly or on purpose.

What defenses can your South Bay criminal defense lawyers use to protect me from a conviction?
One common defense against a prostitution charge is entrapment, the reason being is that persons accused of prostitution are often caught in sting operations or arrested by decoy police officers. To show that entrapment occurred, the defense must show that the police officer engaged in conduct that would cause an otherwise law-abiding person to commit prostitution.  If the law enforcement officer badgered, or used flattery to persuade you into commiting prostitution, or otherwide made some appeal to sympathy or friendship, and you committed the crime but otherwise would not have done so, our South Bay prostitution defense lawyers may be able to have your case dismissed via pre-trial dismissal or acquittal at trial. 

There may be search and seizure issues, such as the stopping of a vehicle or apprehension of a person without probable cause.  Our prostitution defense attorneys can file and argue legal motions challenging the initial stop, thereby having the case dismissed because the evidence against you is excluded.

There are a host of other defenses that we can use depending on the circumstances of your case and which can be discussed at length through a free consultation.

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