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Los Angeles Pandering Defense Attorneys

Pimping and Pandering

Pimping

California Penal Code section 266(h) covers the offense of pimping. Someone is guilty of pimping if he or she does the following:

• Collect part or all of a prostitute's compensation, even if you had no role in finding customers for the prostitute; or
• Solicit prostitution by finding customers and then collecting fees from the customer or taking part of the prostitute's pay.

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State law defines a prostitute as someone who "exchanges sexual activity for hire." Many people mistakenly believe that all pimps are violent and have abusive relationships with their prostitutes. The relationship a pimp has with a prostitute does not matter under penal code 266(h). Even if he or she has a good relationship, acting as an agent and collecting compensation are enough to get a person charged with pimping. Pimps who advertise their prostitutes are especially vulnerable to prosecution, especially if they advertise in newspapers and magazines, on street corners, and on websites dedicated to erotic advertisements.

Pandering

Pandering differs slightly from pimping, but it also involves prostitution. Under section 266(i) of the California Penal Code, you are guilty of pandering if you procure someone for the purpose of prostitution by persuading or encouraging the person to engage in this type of activity. The prosecutor does not have to prove that you were physically or mentally abusive. All that's needed to convict someone of pandering is evidence that the person encouraged or persuaded someone to become a prostitute or remain a prostitute and that he or she made that person available to act as a prostitute.

Possible Defenses

Vice squads all over California spend a considerable amount of time and resources looking for people to charge with pimping and pandering. Some squads use confidential informants and undercover operations to get information on people allegedly committing these crimes. The specific circumstances of your case will dictate the best defense, but there are several possible defenses against these charges.

In some cases, the police and prosecutor do not have enough evidence to convict someone of pimping or pandering. Without audio or video evidence of someone committing this crime, it is difficult to prove. An experienced attorney might also question the testimony of police officers or witnesses. It is possible that a police officer jumped to conclusions and arrested someone for pimping when he was really just repaying a loan.

Entrapment is a defense that claims the accused would not have committed the crime if not tricked or coerced into it by police or other law enforcement officials. If an undercover officer actually suggested that you commit one of these crimes, make sure you tell your Los Angeles sex crimes defense attorney immediately.

If you did not know you were participating in this type of offense, your attorney can argue that you lacked intent. For example, a dance club owner whose employee engages in prostitution without his knowledge does not deserve to be convicted of a sex crime.

Penalties

The penalties for pimping and pandering are the same in California. Possible penalties include the following:

• Fine not to exceed $10,000;
• State prison term of three, four or six years; and
• Sex offender registration if the person you pimped or pandered was under the age of 18.

The penalties are even more serious for offenses involving minors under the age of 16.

Because the penalties for pimping and pandering are so serious, anyone accused of these crimes should immediately contact a skilled defense attorney. The experienced sex crimes defense lawyers at the California law firm of Takakjian & Sitkoff, LLP work hard to ensure our clients have the best possible defense against pimping and pandering charges. If you've been arrested and charged with one of these crimes, call us at (866) 790-5252 to discuss your case.

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