Solicitation of Prostitution - Client found NOT GUILTY
A Navy Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) helicopter pilot contacted our firm
after being charged in Virginia Beach with Solicitation of Prostitution.
The facts of the case were damning and the evidence of guilt overwhelming,
and clearly, any conviction involving this type of offense would mean
the guaranteed end of our client’s distinguished Navy career, as
well as would likely preclude or hamper any future civilian piloting career.
Our client, while at work, allegedly responded to a website ad which was
offering sexual acts in exchange for money. The ad was a sting operation
by Virginia Beach police, who kept notes as to the contents of all discussions
in response to the ads. It was alleged that our client, both initially,
as well as upon his arrival to the hotel room, asked for specific sexual
acts in exchange for an agreed-upon amount of money. A hidden camera was
located in the room to capture the initial conversation between our client
and the undercover female officer, as well as the subsequent arrest, on
video with audio. In addition to being charged with the class 1 misdemeanor
of Solicitation, our client’s vehicle was seized by police pursuant
to a statute which allows for seizure and forfeiture of a vehicle being
used in furtherance of solicitation of prostitution. A prosecutor was
assigned to the case, which is unusual for most misdemeanors in Virginia
Beach. Prior to the trial date, we advised our client that he had to do
invest a significant amount of time and effort into voluntary positive
actions in order to have any shot at a good result for the case. We suggested,
and our client enrolled in and/or completed, a several-week prostitution
intervention course, therapy with a counselor, Sex Addicts Anonymous meetings,
STD testing, and community service. Additionally, we requested and obtained
our client’s personnel file from the Navy. From this, and along
with documentation of the variety of other classes and voluntary actions
completed by our client, we assembled an extremely impressive package
for the judge to review prior to a decision being made in the case. Any
attempt at negotiation with the prosecutor was short-lived, as there was
not going to be any offer made which would be acceptable to our client.
On the day of trial, we entered a No Contest plea to the charge, and did
not argue or oppose the facts as presented by the arresting officer and
Assistant Commonwealth Attorney. In attendance in support of our client
were his wife, parents, as well as at least two members from his command,
to include his Commanding Officer. Our request that the judge consider
continuing the case for a short period of time and then dismissing the
charge was met with fierce resistance by the prosecutor, whose argument
was that we were simply asking the Court to treat our client differently
than other charged with the same offense because of who he was in his
rank and occupation. Our response was that that was not the case –
his rank and occupation certainly played a major role in it, but beyond
that was the huge number of impressive steps our client voluntarily accomplished
prior to the trial – something that we were comfortable guessing
that nobody else had ever done before that Court. The judge, over the
prosecution’s stern objection, GRANTED our request and continued
the case for two months, whereupon our client was found NOT GUILTY of
the charge. After the criminal trial was over, we succeed in having the
prosecutor DISMISS the forfeiture proceeding, thereby returning our client’s
vehicle to him after several months in the police impound. Lastly, again
over the prosecutor’s objections, several months later we successfully
petitioned for a judge to grant our client’s request to have the
charge EXPUNGED from his record. As a result of the outstanding outcome
of this case, our client’s Navy career was saved – the Navy
determined that there were no facts that warranted separation action to
be instituted against our client.
Solicitation of Prostitution Against Army E7 - CHARGE SET TO BE DISMISSED
An E7 in the US Army retained our firm after being charged with Solicitation
of Prostitution in Newport News. A conviction, or even a deferral, on
such an offense would have effectively ended his career. Prior to trial,
we were able to secure an agreement for a GENERAL CONTINUANCE, after which
point, the charge against our client will be DISMISSED and eligible to
be EXPUNGED, thereby saving his career.
Solicitation For Immoral Purposes Charge - CHARGES DISMISSED
A local military member contacted us after being arrested in an undercover
prostitution sting in Newport News. After responding to an online advertisement
for sexual services, our client had met the purported prostitute at an
area hotel, where, after confirming his requests, police officers entered
the room and charged him with solicitation of prostitution, a Class 1
Misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail. A conviction of such
an offense would have meant the end of our client’s military career.
Because our client had no prior criminal history, we were able to secure
an agreement with the prosecutor, wherein our client must remain on good
behavior and satisfy several other requirements over the course of the
six months after his court date, and upon completion of those conditions,
the charge will be DISMISSED. In addition, due to his military status,
a deferral/finding under advisement would have had the same detrimental
effect on our client’s career as a conviction, so we were also able
to secure a general continuance, wherein there was no presentation of
evidence or plea entered. This outcome eliminates any potential negative
effect on our client’s military career that is normally associated
with a deferral.
Solicitation For Immoral Purposes Charge - CHARGES DISMISSED
Our client was charged by civilian authorities with indecent exposure
related to allegations of solicitation for immoral purposes in a public
rest room. After an extended trial, the judge agreed to defer findings
on the allegations for twelve months, after which the charges were DISMISSED.
We were later able to get the criminal arrest record EXPUNGED.
Solicitation For Immoral Purposes Charge - CHARGES DISMISSED - RECORD EXPUNGED
A senior Naval officer was charged by civilian authorities with charges
related to solicitation for immoral purposes. The charges were DISMISSED
upon our motion after cross-examination of the undercover police officer.
After trial, we secured an EXPUNGEMENT of the arrest record.
Solicitation For Immoral Purposes Charge - CHARGES DISMISSED
Senior military officer was charged by local police with solicitation
for immoral purposes. We secured a DEFERRED DISPOSITION and eventual DISMISSAL
of the charges.
Solicitation For Immoral Purposes Charge - CHARGES DISMISSED
Our client, a defense contractor, was arrested for soliciting prostitution.
While there was an overwhelming amount of evidence to convict our client,
the judge agreed to take the charge under advisement and later dismissed it.
Solicitation For Immoral Purposes Charge - ACQUITTED
Our client was charged with soliciting a prostitute. The prosecutor refused
to drop or reduce the charge so we took it to trial. Although two police
officers testified regarding the evidence, we successfully argued that
there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that
our client was guilty. The judge ACQUITTED our client.
Solicitation For Immoral Purposes Charge - CHARGES DISMISSED
Our client was charged by local police with solicitation for immoral purposes
and visiting a bawdy place. The arrest came as a result of an undercover
“sting” operation where a police officer posed as a prostitute.
The charges were DISMISSED upon our motion after cross-examination of
the undercover police officer. After trial, we secured an EXPUNGEMENT
of the arrest record.
Solicitation For Immoral Purposes Charge - CHARGES DISMISSED
A highly-respected school teacher was charged in Hampton Roads with solicitation
of oral sodomy from an undercover police officer in a city park. A conviction
of this charge carries severe consequences, not to mention the shame and
loss of an outstanding career by our client. Additionally, the prosecutor
was unwilling to offer a plea to anything acceptable to us or our client.
Based upon a recent Virginia Court of Appeals decision striking down Virginia's
anti-sodomy law, we immediately filed an in-depth motion to dismiss the
charge as contrary to case law in that, we argued, a person cannot be
charged or convicted of soliciting a felony which is no longer a felony
in Virginia. As a result of our motion, the charge against our client
was DISMISSED.