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Atlantic City Prostitution in a Casino Lawyer

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    Many prostitution arrests in Atlantic City are connected with casinos. Prostitutes and pimps may focus their business on casino patrons who may be intoxicated and may have extra gambling winnings to spend. Policing practices for prostitution tend to see sex workers themselves as victims of the system, so police more often arrest johns and pimps as opposed to the prostitutes themselves. However, anyone participating in prostitution can face arrest and criminal penalties for participating in prostitution.

    If you were charged with a prostitution crime in an Atlantic City casino, talk to the Atlantic City casino prostitution defense lawyers at the Law Offices of John J. Zarych today. Our attorneys fight to get charges dropped and dismissed and reduce the penalties for criminal charges in New Jersey. For help with your case, contact our law offices today at (609) 616-4956 to schedule a free consultation.

    Prostitution Crimes in a Casino in Atlantic City

    New Jersey’s prostitution offenses under N.J.S.A. § 2C:34-1 contain crimes to punish nearly anyone involved in prostitution. From the prostitutes themselves to the pimps promoting prostitution, and from the johns soliciting sex to owners of brothels and other establishments, anyone involved in this system can be arrested and charged with an offense.

    There are 8 main offenses contained in this statute, which punish the following activity:

    • First, it is illegal to “engage in prostitution as a patron.” This is the most common offense charged for prostitution, since policing efforts typically target the johns.
    • Second, “promoting prostitution” includes owning or operating a brothel, encouraging someone to be a prostitute, working to find johns for a prostitute, or transporting someone into or around New Jersey to work as a prostitute.
    • Third, there is a more serious offense for knowingly promoting a person under the age of 18 as a prostitute.
    • Fourth, there is a separate offense for promoting your own child as a prostitute.
    • Fifth, compelling someone to act as a prostitute is a crime. This can be accomplished through threats or other forms of coercion.
    • Sixth, it is illegal to promote your own spouse as a prostitute.
    • Seventh, it is illegal to solicit or hire a prostitute under the age of 18. It is also illegal to enter or stay at a brother in order to solicit sex from a prostitute under 18 years old.
    • The eighth and final offense covers personally “engag[ing] in prostitution by personally offering sexual activity in exchange for something of economic value.”

    Penalties for Prostitution in a Casino in AC

    There are no automatic upgrades or presumptions that apply to your offense simply because it was committed in a casino. This means that your crime should be treated the same way as any other charges for these offenses occurring anywhere else in the state. Even so, many of these offenses carry substantial penalties.

    New Jersey breaks its crimes into disorderly persons offenses and indictable crimes. Disorderly persons offenses are the lightest level of criminal offense and are treated like other states’ misdemeanor offenses. Indictable crimes are classified as first through fourth degree crimes, with first being the most serious. These crimes are essentially equivalent to felonies in other states.

    The only two prostitution offenses that are classified as a disorderly persons offense are a first-time offense of solicitation and a first-time offense of working as a prostitute. These are punishable by up to 6 months in jail and fines up to $1,000.

    Three offenses are classified as fourth degree crimes: some promotion/pimping offenses, a second or third conviction of solicitation, and a second or subsequent conviction of working as a prostitute. These crimes are punished by up to 18 months in prison and fines up to $10,000.

    Four offenses are classified as third degree crimes: forcing another person into prostitution, promoting the prostitution of your spouse, certain promotion of prostitution offenses, and a fourth or subsequent conviction for solicitation. These crimes carry a potential of 3-5 years in prison and fines up to $15,000.

    The only prostitution crime severe enough to qualify as a second degree crime is engaging in prostitution with a minor. This is a severe offense carrying the potential of 5-10 years in prison and fines up to $150,000.

    Promoting the prostitution of a child in general or the prostitution of your own child are both punished as first degree crimes. These are incredibly serious offenses and can lead to 10-20 years in prison and fines up to $200,000.

    Additional penalties may apply to certain offenses. Many offenses for promoting or running prostitutes or for soliciting a prostitute under 18 increase the fine by $10,000 to $50,000. If the offense involved a child under 18, the fine increases by at least $25,000. These additional penalties are paid toward a fund for human trafficking victims.

    Atlantic City Defense Lawyer Offering Free Consultations on Casino Prostitution Charges

    If you were arrested and charged with a prostitution offense in an Atlantic City casino, call the Law Offices of John J. Zarych today. Our attorneys may be able to take your case and fight to protect your rights. Especially if you were forced into prostitution or were a victim of human trafficking, our attorneys can fight to protect you from unjust criminal charges. To schedule a free legal consultation on your case, contact our Atlantic City casino prostitution lawyers at (609) 616-4956.

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