As you may have heard, the Police Chief of Robbinsdale, Minnesota was recently arrested for soliciting a prostitute. In this case, the Police Chief, Steven D. Smith, was arrested February 20, 2014. The arrest of the police chief, however, did not become public until he was formally charged and appeared in court around March 23, 2014. Smith, who is 45, was arrested during a Coon Rapids police sting involving an undercover officer in Anoka County who posted an ad on BackPage.com under the “escorts” section.
This incident unfortunate incident cost Smith his job and his police career, as he was forced to resign days before appearing in court. Chief Smith’s predicament highlights that Many Twin Cities police departments are currently conducting similar stings to bust men looking to hire a prostitute. Almost all of these undercover prostitution stings have involved Backpage.com or similar websites. Typically, the ads feature a scantily clad woman, they may mention “escort” services, and they give a phone number to call. When the potential client calls the number he is directed to a hotel, usually, or in Chief Smith’s case, a private home. Even a first offense of soliciting a Prostitute in Minnesota can be a Gross Misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $3000 fine and a year in jail. And under the Minnesota Prostitution law, soliciting a prostitute in a hotel is defined as a “public” place, which makes the offense a Gross Misdemeanor, a more serious offense than a Misdemeanor which carries a maximum penalty of $1000 and 90 days in jail.
Luckily, if you or someone you know has been charged with soliciting prostitution, there is HELP. You need the best Minnesota solicitation of prostitution defense attorney. At Keller Criminal Defense Attorneys, we have represented many clients charged with Soliciting a Prostitute. We have represented doctors, State Senators, executives of major Minnesota Corporations, etc. We have handled soliciting cases in cities such as St. Paul, Maplewood, and Coon Rapids. We may be able to get your case reduced from a Gross Misdemeanor to a Misdemeanor. We may also be able to get your case kept off your record by use of a Continuance for Dismissal (CFD) or a Continuance Without Plea (CWOP). We can also possibly keep the case off your record by a Stay of Adjudication. If you are NOT a citizen of the U.S., then of course a straight-up guilty plea could make you deportable or inadmissible (if you leave the country you can’t get back in). Because of all the consequences that can come with a one-time mistake, you must contact the experienced attorneys at Keller Criminal Defense Attorneys now for help in your case to preserve your clean record, your job, your family, and your FREEDOM.
