As reported by Amanda Milkovits in the May 5, 2015 and May 7, 2015 editions of the Providence Journal, Providence Police are making a concerted effort to stop prostitution. During a sting operation, thirteen (13) men were arrested and charged with procuring sex for a fee. The men were able to locate prostitutes using the website Backpage.com. Police posing as prostitutes arranged meetings with the men at local hotels. Once the men showed up, they were arrested. An earlier sting operation in April led to the arrest of twenty-two (22) men.
Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws 11-34.1-3, a person is guilty of procuring or attempting to procure sexual conduct for the payment of a fee if they engage or seek to engage in sexual conduct for any type of fee and/or pay or agree to pay any type of fee for sexual conduct, regardless of the time, place or location of the procurement, attempted procurement, payment, attempted payment or conduct.
The penalties if convicted include imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or to a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both. Any person found guilty of a subsequent offense under this section shall be subject to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.
In this most recent case, the men were offered a plea disposition of a one (1) year filing with a contribution to VCIF.
Earlier this week, Providence Police raided a “massage parlor” and arrested a woman for prostitution. This business also used Backpages.com to advertise its services. Pursuant to R.I.G.L. 11-34.1-2, prostitution is defined as a person is guilty of prostitution when such person engages, or agrees, or offers to engage in sexual conduct with another person in return for a fee.
The penalties if convicted include imprisonment for a term not exceeding six (6) months, or to a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both. Any person found guilty of a subsequent offense under this section shall be subject to imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.
There are affirmative defenses to the charge of prostitution. They include:
(1) Being threatened or subjected to physical harm;
(2) Being physically restrained or threatened to be physically restrained;
(3) Being subject to threats of abuse of law or legal process;
(4) Being subject to destruction, concealment, removal, or confiscation, of any passport or other immigration document or any other actual or purported governmental identification document; or
(5) Being subject to intimidation in which the accused's physical well-being
was perceived as threatened.
If you or a family member has been charged with prostitution, procuring sex or
other sex crimes, please allow
Attorney Robert H. Humphrey’s reputation, experience and skill to successfully guide you through the
legal process. Please
contact Attorney Robert H. Humphrey, Esq., at 401-816-5862 or e-mail him at rhh@rhumphreylaw.com.