What To Do If You Are Busted By An Undercover Police Officer For Prostitution in St. Louis, MO

If you are charged with or arrested for prostitution in St. Louis by an undercover cop, then chances are things went like this: you posted an ad (on something like Craigslist or Backpage); the client responded; you set up a meeting with him (usually at a hotel); you negotiate the deal; and then before you know it he is flashing a badge. The client is actually an undercover vice cop on a sting operation.

Here are some warning signs you would definitely want to look out for (things that should cause a “red flag” to go up when dealing with potential clients):

1. If the client/john asks you to bring drugs to the designated meeting place. Police officers in a sting operation will often want to up the charges to include possession of an illegal substance.
2. If the client/john requests multiple girls. If the officer can charge two women at the same time, he will consider it a win-win.
3. If the client/john asks you to sit in a certain chair as soon as you arrive, or if he asks you to undress as soon as you arrive. If it is an undercover cop, then chances are you are being videotaped by a hidden device.
4. If the client/john immediately asks you to describe what it is that you will do and/or perform for him (especially if he does not take the time to tell you what he wants). Getting you to verbal state out loud what sort of services you will perform for a certain price is valuable evidence for the police.
5. If when you meet the client/john you do not have a good feeling about it, or if something does not seem right, or if things appear odd, then chances are your gut is telling you something.

This scenario is becoming more and more common. Counties and townships around the St. Louis are starting to crack down on prostitution (solicitation) and patronizing prostitution. If you have in fact been cited with either, there are options available to you. You DO NOT have to plead guilty. In fact, pleading guilty is the worst thing you could do.

Solicitation and patronizing prostitution are both Class B Misdemeanors. So if you plead guilty to this kind of charge, the conviction will become a permanent part of your record. That will have a disastrous effect on your ability to get a job in the future, rent an apartment, or even get a student loan. Instead, our firm can examine all the pertinent facts of your case (to see if there is a chance of getting the charges dropped). We will always work closely with the local prosecutor to see about getting the charges reduced to something minor (so that nothing negative shows up on your record). Or at the very least, we can work out an SIS (suspended imposition of sentence) with the court (which involves a period of probation, after which the charge drops off completely). As you can see, these options are far better than simply pleading guilty!!

The affordable St. Louis, MO prostitution defense attorneys at The Bankruptcy Company, have been helping people with their prostitution charges for over ten (10) years. Our goal is to make sure that the charges leveled against you do not stay on your permanent record, and do any lasting damage. And we want to do all of this at an affordable price. The fees for a typical St. Louis prostitution case start at $450. But the initial consultation to discuss your legal issues is free of charge. So contact us today!!