A victimless crime is essentially a crime that has no direct victim because, more often than not, only “consenting” adults are involved. Penalties for Victimless Sex Crimes in Washington State can be very severe and often involve jail time, fines, community service, attendance at a sexual offender treatment program, and in some specific circumstances, lifetime registration as a sexual offender.
Some examples of Victimless Sex Crimes in Washington are Prostitution, Pimping Solicitation, Pandering, Lewd acts, Lascivious Conduct and Indecent Exposure. Prostitution in Washington State is defined as a person receiving payment for sexual intercourse or other sexual acts. Pimping in Washington State is defined as soliciting acts of prostitution or pandering on behalf of another. It is a crime in Washington to hire a prostitute to perform sexual acts for payment. Being charged with Prostitution in Washington State can arise as a result of a pre-planned, systematic law enforcement sting operation, using police officer as decoys who pose as prostitutes; this type of law enforcement activity is not considered entrapment. A law enforcement sting operation can consist of potential customers agreeing to perform a particular sexual act for a particular monetary fee. Lewd Acts, Lascivious Conduct and Indecent Exposure often involve: (1) pornography, (2) engaging in sexual acts in a public place, or (3) exposing the genitals of oneself in a public place. In certain circumstances Indecent Exposure in Washington State may require long-term registration as a sex offender or tedious and embarrassing psychological treatment. Many individuals charged with a victimless crime in Washington State have no prior criminal record; they desire to keep the matter as private as possible, and do not want to go to trial so as to avoid potentially adverse effects on their marriage, family life and employment status.
Because of the significant life-changing implications a victimless crime conviction can have, it is imperative that a person charged with a victimless sex crime in Washington State retain a qualified Western Washington criminal defense attorney in order to best minimize potential legal consequences and protect themselves from unnecessary embarrassment and any negative employment consequences. The Seattle criminal attorneys that make up the criminal defense team of SQ Attorneys are highly qualified Western Washington criminal defense attorneys that are dedicated to providing top notch, aggressive representation for those charged with victimless crimes in Western Washington. The team creates success by working with law enforcement and the prosecuting attorney’s office to ensure that all facts and circumstances related to the allegations are considered in creating the fairest, most equitable and just resolution possible.
If you or a loved one is cited for or charged with a victimless crime in King County, Pierce County, Snohomish County, Kitsap County, Thurston County or one of the following cities or towns: Algona, Bellevue, Black Diamond, Bonney Lake, Bothell, Burien, Des Moines, Duvall, Edmonds, Enumclaw, Everett, Federal Way, fife, Hunts Point, Issaquah, Kenmore, Kent, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Lake Stevens, Lakewood, Lynnwood, Maple Valley, Marysville, Medina, Mercer Island, Milton, Monroe, Mountlake Terrace, New Castle, Normandy Park, North Bend, Olympia, Puyallup, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, Sea Tac, Seattle, Shoreline, Snohomish, Sumner, Tacoma, Tukwila, University Place, and/or Woodinville, or any other city or town in Western Washington, call The Criminal Defense Team of SQ Attorneys at (206) 441-0900.