Supervising or Aiding a Prostitute – Penal Code 653.23 PC
California Penal Code 653.23 PC makes it a crime for anyone to direct, supervise, recruit, or assist someone else in committing prostitution, solicitation, or loitering with the intent to commit prostitution activity.
Further, this statute also applies to anyone who receives money that another person acquired in a prostitution-related related activity. PC 653.23 is a misdemeanor crime punishable by up to 6 months in county jail and a maximum fine of $1,000.00.
This sex crime is closely related to the infamous pimping and pandering felony charges defined under California Penal Code 266h and 266i PC.
This misdemeanor statute is a standard tool used by law enforcement and prosecutors as the burden of proof is lower than a felony pimping and pandering case.
This law is used more regularly because it makes it easier for police to arrest prostitution activity, which is one of the primary reasons the law was enacted in the first place.
A typical example is when someone operates a massage parlor that does provide actual massages.
However, much of their money is related to prostitution from the people there.
The parlor operator could be prosecuted for violating Penal Code 653.23 supervising and aiding a prostitute because she received profits from prostitution activity at her business. Our California sex crime defense attorneys review the law below for more detailed information.
Defining PC 653.23 Supervising a Prostitute
This sex crime statute makes it a crime to do any of the following acts:
- Supervise, recruit, or help another person to commit solicitation of prostitution or loiter for prostitution;
- Receive or collect money from a person who earned it through committing prostitution activity;
“Prostitution” is generally described as two people committing lewd acts in exchange for money or other forms of compensation.
“Loitering to commit prostitution” is generally described as lingering around in public with the intent to commit prostitution-related activity.
Some common examples that police and prosecutors use to show you were supervising or aiding a prostitute in violation of Penal Code 653.23 PC include:
- repeated attempts to communicate with known prostitutes;
- circling the area in a car and repeatedly beckoning prostitutes;
- repeatedly communicates with someone loitering for prostitution;
- monitors prostitutes who are loitering to commit prostitution;
- appears to receive money from someone who is prostituting;
- behavior likely showing aiding prostitute in the known area;
- they are known to engage in behavior above within the last six months;
- they have had a related conviction within the past five years.
The related prior convictions include prostitution, solicitation of prostitution, loitering for prostitution, pimping and pandering, lewd conduct in public, and any other related sex offense. If you are convicted of the misdemeanor crime of Penal Code 653.23 supervising or aiding a prostitute, you face up to six months in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
What are the Related California Offenses?
Several crimes are closely related to PC 653.23 supervising a prostitute, including:
- Penal Code 652.22 PC – loitering to commit prostitution,
- Penal Code 647(a) PC – lewd conduct in public,
- Penal Code 647(b) PC – solicitation of prostitution,
- Penal Code 266h & 266i PC - pimping and pandering,
What Are You Facing if Charged with PC 653.23?
California Penal Code 653.23 is a severe crime. The prosecutors, police, and judges view this as someone who is almost akin to or the same as a pimp, and of course, pimping and pandering will bring you a 3-year mandatory minimum prison sentence.
So, if that gives you an idea, you're facing custody time. You're facing:
- probation or prison;
- stigma on your record for prostitution activity;
- you're connected potentially to pimping and pandering;
- you may even end up having to register as a sex offender.
All these above, of course, depend on what you ultimately plead guilty to and how the prosecutors and judges view you related to your criminal case and your criminal record. Anything you can do to turn the tide will be crucial if you're charged with this very serious Penal Code Section 653.23.
Retain the Best Defense Lawyer
My first suggestion is to hire the best attorney you can because your attorney will be your champion. Your attorney will tell your side of the story -- tell who you are.
Suppose the prosecutors are not treating you fairly. Suppose the police did a sloppy one-sided investigation. In that case, only one person can point that out effectively and get you the result you deserve, and that's your criminal defense attorney.
I've been handling these prostitution-related offenses now for 27 years. I've been a criminal defense attorney representing people just like you since 1994. So, you've come to the right place.
We've got to get a plan of attack. The first thing we do is meet and talk about your case. We figure out what the approach is going to be. Is it going to be one where we're going to defend the claim, investigate it, and try to win it at a jury trial, or do the prosecutors have good evidence against you we need to negotiate?
Preparation of a Mitigation Package
If it is time to negotiate, we need to put together a mitigation package on your behalf, specifically designed for you, that considers all of the good things about you.
We get character letters and let the prosecutors know your side of the story.
Sometimes that's what's needed in these criminal defense cases when someone's charged with aiding and abetting prostitution, supervising a prostitute, pimping and pandering.
Sometimes the prosecutors don't have the whole story. Maybe the woman is working for herself, and you're just tangentially connecting.
They really shouldn't be charged with a crime. Regardless of you, she will be doing what she's doing, so it's not fair to try to blame you for it. That could be a defense, depending on whether the facts support that.
So, step one is to meet and get a strategy together. Step two is to execute a plan to bring you the best result, and that plan could be getting your case ready for trial or negotiating a case.
But, you've got to have experience on your side who can fight for you and get you the result you deserve.
Pick up the phone now. Ask to speak with Ron Hedding. Ask for a meeting. I stand at the ready to help you. Hedding law firm is based in Los Angeles County with two office locations, including 2049 Century Park E #2525 Los Angeles, CA 90067.
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