Solicitation crimes can refer to a broad range of offenses. These criminal allegations can have a major impact on your life and reputation for a long time, and it is important to work with experienced counsel you can trust.
A Spartanburg solicitation lawyer from Ellis Hinton, LLC can help you throughout your case by advising on defense strategies and providing honest assessments of your potential outcomes. Since our defense attorneys have experience in both state and federal prosecution, we know how to tackle criminal cases. Learn more about solicitation crimes and how our firm can create a personalized plan for your defense.
State law prohibits solicitation, which is an effort to hire, persuade, or otherwise convince another person to participate in an illegal activity. While the intended crime may never occur, the act of soliciting another person to conspire or perform the illegal act is itself a crime. The class of offense—misdemeanor or felony—and the corresponding punishment for a conviction depend on the specific charge.
Perhaps the most widely recognized example is soliciting prostitution. According to the South Carolina Criminal Code § 16-15-90(3), it is unlawful to solicit a person for prostitution. It is also illegal to persuade, induce, or encourage a female to become a prostitute or enter the state for the purpose of prostitution.
A first offense for solicitation of a prostitute is punishable with a fine of $200 and a 30-day prison sentence. However, the punishment increases to a $1,000 fine and up to six months in prison for a second violation. Conviction for a third offense can result in a $3,000 fine and one year in prison under S.C. Code § 16-15-110.
A Spartanburg lawyer can also defend against other solicitation allegations involving efforts to persuade or induce a person to commit a crime. For example, S.C. Cose § 16-3-1045 prohibits soliciting a person under 18 to commit the following crimes:
This is a felony offense and punishable by five to 15 years in prison. S.C. Code § 16-13-450 provides another example of criminal solicitation. It states that it is unlawful to issue, sell, or offer a person a fake ID or other document that purports a person’s age or date of birth. This is a misdemeanor offense, and the punishment for conviction is a $500 to $2,000 fine with a six-month prison sentence.
To convict you of a solicitation crime, prosecutors have to provide evidence demonstrating your intent to commit the underlying offense. An attorney in Spartanburg can review the state’s evidence against you in your solicitation case and evaluate its strengths and weaknesses.
One defense your attorney can use is showing that you, the defendant, had no intent to solicit. Other defenses may apply if the prosecution violated your rights to due process, such as by conducting a search and seizure to obtain evidence without adequate probable cause or by failing to recite the Miranda warnings after your arrest.
Based in Greenville, servicing SC and beyond, our lawyers at Ellis Hinton are here to provide you or a loved one with experienced and honest criminal defense. Know your rights, consider your options, and work with us to execute a personalized defense strategy that best aligns with your goals. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Spartanburg solicitation lawyer.
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