I am new to this and have been lucky with no le issues. I know we new people ask the same questions, but where else would we get the answers? What would you do with somebody new, or someone who maybe is working with le to prevent the meeting and if you do meet prevent the ticket? Cause some people getting busted could mean a loss of employment and a serious career change.
to make a long story bearable, was in s.d. a week ago and swayed from TER (mistake one!).
booked an incall appointment, and upon arrival my friggin' instincts told me something wasn't right, but ignored my intuition (mistake two).
after meeting her, and asking her if she had any affiliation with le, (she said no)i believed her (mistake three).
handed her my envelope. within a minute we had company and i was 'cited' and released for misdemeanor prostitution.
here's my options;
1. send in ticket and pay fine
2. appear in court to plead
3. sign-up for a community service program
needless to say, the object is to try to avoid a public record....any advice???
hey-- i think you are skipping couple steps. did you at any time solicit sex after handing her the envelope. Was she nude? Was she herself a cop or a girl helping the cops? What happened in that 'minute'?
had previous phone conversations with her, so there was an assumption as to what the envelope was for...
she was fully clothed, and le was a little reluctant to answear the question as to if she was a cop or not (although i asked!)
couldn't use hand gestures as i was handcuffed...
Be very very careful of testalying....if your false statement rings false, particularly to a judge, the hammer will change from ball peen to sledge in a nanosecond. In the very insightly words of Judge Judy "Don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining" I have seen people who should have admitted there error (because the government had a locked case) and pleaded for understanding and mercy from the judge (who will often be more understanding than the prosecutor) and instead tried to tell the judge that the moon is made out of green cheese. You might as well commit seppuku before the trial. Now, on the other hand,
if the government does not have a case...comes up short, hell, go for it but make sure it rings true...
Your too late. No matter which option you choose, it's a matter of public record. Some options may be more "visible" than others. If you are out doing community service people may want to know why, but if you send in the ticket with the fine, nobody knows about it but you (and anbody involved with the processing of it, of course).
I don't know how sensitive having a public record of your bust is to your career or private life. You can plead "No Contest" and the charge/conviction can not be used against you in a later civil action but it is still there as a matter of public record.
Any way you look at it unless you spend the bucks and take the time to hopefully beat the rap your name and conviction will be on the books.
Good luck
FR225
who was the chic? site, tel #
those who dance, must pay the fiddler.
Are you sure about the "No Contest" having this effect? Could a charge/conviction be used in a later federal court by chance?
I guess it varies but once it is public record it can bite you in the ass anyway, for example, depends on future employers and their own hiring practices which is up to their discretion.
Knowing how anonymous these boards are, I am warey of posts like these. I mean who knows? However, You said you had conversations with her prior to appointment. Where did she advertise and what name did she use? The hotel? If you never solicited her and was never caught on tape (audio or video) you may have a way out if you take it to trial.
An attorney friend of mine in another state had a case where the gentleman was arrested by street detail. All he did was pull into a gas station that was bang in the middle of a notorious red light district. An undercover cop approached him and solicited him, he declined was about to leave when he was swooped upon. Well, let me tell you this brave man knew he had not solicited and decided to fight it, despite the fact he was married, and gainfully employed. They said they had audio and video, the attorney said bring it on. Well, after a few months and no video or audio proof, they dropped charges.
Either fight it or pay the fine and avoid your family or community finding out. Remember, that even if you take it to trial the fact that you contacted this person, however she advertised her services, it's still easy for a jury to "infer" that you intent was to procure the services of a prostitute. I feel ya pain.
Good luck
Marla.
I am new to this and have been lucky with no le issues. I know we new people ask the same questions, but where else would we get the answers? What would you do with somebody new, or someone who maybe is working with le to prevent the meeting and if you do meet prevent the ticket? Cause some people getting busted could mean a loss of employment and a serious career change.
1) Never see an unreviewed girl...and if you do, for gawd sake only see her at the recommendation of a fellow hobbyist who is a REAL friend (not an anonymous handle) and has seen her himself.
2) Don't hobby at all if you actually have something as serious as your career at risk...and if you do, don't see an unreviewed girl under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Get a lawyer RIGHT NOW. Have him try to plea bargin it down to something unrelated to prostitution/soliciting. Something like pandering or disorderly conduct. Something you can explain away as something other than prostitution/solicitation should your employer/family find out about it.
Rocket
agree on a reduced charge, the judge accepts the plea by adding a count 2 to the charges (disturbing the peace), and then dismissing count 1 (solicitation).
The solicitation charge would be on your record but show up as being dismissed. It is easy to make the connection with the guilty/no contest plea to disturbing the peace because the dates of both charge would be the same.
Nope, not in most states. While the original charge may show in your poloce record, the part of your public trial or guilty plea/verdict will be the charge you plea to.
Listen to rocket and spare no expense in getting a non sex related offense to plea to, even if you get SIS (suspended imposition of sentence) In Virginia a guy paid the fine and his name was entered into the state sex offenders registry. Someone surfing the net found it. If you can afford the hobby you can afford the best lawyer...they coincidentally charge about the same per hour...and though both are full service, one feels good and the other lasts a long time..good luck..
How can they put this under a sex offender?
Was it an underage person he was dealing with?
I don't think it matters in some states. In some states, I believe any sex-related crime, including prostitution, indecent exposure, etc. makes you eligible for all the fun of being a reportable sex offender.
Browse the San Diego board to find out why he can't.
wasn't that Jack's line to the LE? 
i wonder if the SDPD didn't set up this whole deal with the help of their TER snoops. i'm new here so i don't know for sure, but isn't it possible (in theory) for them to setup a "bait" complete with fake reviews and whatnot and then reel in the suckers who fall for it? not regarding this particular case, but in general (perhaps should check the legal board)
despite the reasons, i would still probably backchannel the exact circumstances to your TER friends (but make damn sure that they are indeed your "friends"). furthermore, folks are right, get yourself a lawyer and do EXACTLY as he says (he may in fact tell you to keep your mouth shut and not to "warn" others about what happened to you)
I am very new to TER, but have recently heard that TER has cooperated with LE in stings in the past. Do you guys feel there is any truth to that. A major concern that I have.
It's more likely that LE uses TER to lend a tenuous degree of credibility to their entrapments, I mean stings. Post a fake review of Office Niceass and cull the herd a little. Keep up the good work, Big Bro. Oh, and doesn't Tom Ridge look exactly like you always knew Big Brother would look like?
I'd go with Ashcroft anyday (that dude scares me). Atlanta's own Assistant COP Dreher is another one that scares me. He got his "chops" at the FBI Academy and many years of policing the White House and Capitol Hill.
still would have to give the nod to Ashcroft. Saw him testifying on the Hill for the Patriot Act Version 2.0 - should give chills down anyone's spine.
and the man in the White House agrees with him. But as powerful as they are, in the end, the American people are much more powerful. however, we will see some more dark times before things turn around. They have plans for all of us.
You really do need representation because your lawyer will be able to contact the county or district attorney and feel them out about what options are available.
Community service may not be so bad, if you can get community service that does not reveal what you did. If you're not married, community service could be explained away to friends and family as altruistic rather than punitive.
Your attorney may very well be able to turn the charge into disorderly conduct or something similar. That way, you don't have to hide the conviction from future employers. When the question comes up, you simply tell them that you joined in a protest about some issue (pick a popular one they're likely in favor of) and you were just a victim of overzealous policing--wrong place at the wrong time. Better yet, you were just a passerby not involved in the protest... one of the protesters (a minor) was being treated too roughly by the PD, you stepped in peacefully to try and calm the situation and ended up being associated with the protesters. All kinds of goodies to work with once you get the charge reduced.
The real issue for most isn't future employment, etc., it's "what option is easiest to keep from/explain to the li'l woman at home." You make no mention of that.
Also, there could be bartering beyond plea bargaining--higher fine or more community service offered in return for record being expunged after one year, or reduced to a petty misdemeanor charge.