An arrest after a private message exchange or an undercover operation can leave you uncertain about what prosecutors believe occurred. Solicitation allegations may concern an offer to purchase sexual services or an alleged request that someone else commit a crime. The distinction determines your defense.
If you are looking for a Nashville solicitation lawyer, early legal advice can protect your defense. A criminal defense attorney can examine the arrest report before you respond to investigators or discuss the incident publicly. Our team at Beasley Law Criminal Defense Attorneys includes two former district attorneys and a former magistrate. We are determined to test the state’s evidence rather than accepting its account.
What Does State Law Require for a Solicitation Charge?
Tennessee law uses solicitation in more than one context. Patronizing prostitution is prohibited under Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-13-514. This offense concerns conduct that includes soliciting or hiring another person with the intent that the person engage in prostitution. Sexual activity does not need to occur for a charge to arise, and an undercover officer may be involved.
Criminal solicitation is a separate offense under TN Code § 39-12-102. It involves intentionally requesting or hiring someone to commit a crime with the intent of carrying out that crime. This distinction changes what prosecutors must establish and which penalties apply. Our Nashville solicitation defense attorneys identify the charged offense first, then compare its required elements against the actual communications and other facts surrounding your specific case.
Messages and Undercover Operations Deserve Close Scrutiny
In a solicitation investigation, police may rely on an advertisement, a recorded conversation, or messages exchanged through an online account. Investigators sometimes summarize an extended exchange in a few selected lines. We examine whether the state has preserved the full exchange and whether the words establish the intent required by the charge. Promptly identifying missing records is particularly important when electronic communications form the basis of a prosecution.
An undercover operation is not automatically unlawful, and the involvement of an officer does not by itself defeat a prosecution. An entrapment defense turns on government inducement and whether the accused was predisposed to commit the offense. Our Nashville solicitation attorneys assess whether those circumstances support a defense while also testing the reliability of digital evidence. We investigate how statements were obtained and whether the state’s interpretation withstands scrutiny before negotiations or trial.
Penalties Make Early Case Assessment Essential
Ordinary patronizing prostitution is generally a Class A misdemeanor. A conviction can bring jail time and a fine. Additional mandatory penalties apply when the conduct occurs within one and one-half miles of a school. The offense becomes substantially more serious when a minor or a person with an intellectual disability is involved. These distinctions make the charge and alleged facts critical in allowing us to build an informed defense strategy on your behalf.
Patronizing prostitution involving a minor is classified as a Class A felony. Cases involving a person with an intellectual disability or an officer posing as a minor fall within Class B felony provisions. Our Nashville lawyers defending solicitation charges must also consider whether the alleged conduct occurred before that effective date. We explain the potential sentencing exposure and investigate evidence that may support your defense.
Speak With a Nashville Solicitation Attorney Today For Help With Charges
Facing a solicitation allegation calls for a defense tailored to the statute, not a generic response to a sex crime accusation. Our team examines the facts and gives you a clear assessment of the paths available. We are determined to protect your record while preparing the case for contested proceedings when necessary.
Your choice of a Nashville solicitation lawyer should reflect the seriousness of the allegation and the skill needed to challenge it. Beasley Law Criminal Defense Attorneys offers free consultations and a collaborative approach informed by courtroom experience on both sides of criminal cases. Contact us today to discuss your charge confidentially.
