Legal Question in Criminal Law in South Dakota

I contacted someone for sex. agreed I later recanted, got scared/afraid. we did not meet or do anything. Can I be charged with a crime of solication.


Asked on 11/17/15, 11:53 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

By itself, soliciting sex is not a crime. Soliciting *prostitution* -- in other words, a trade of sex for money or something else of value -- is a crime. I'll assume that's what happened, even though your question doesn't say so.

With that assumption in mind, the answer is yes. Soliciting is a crime, regardless of what happens afterwards. Your change of heart means you didn't commit an additional crime. That's important, but it doesn't erase what happened first.

Of course, this doesn't mean you will actually be charged. Even if the person you contacted was a police officer or an informant, they were probably after people who try to go through with it. Why? Partly because going through with it is a more serious offense, and partly because people are a lot easier to find and identify when they actually show up.

Unless there's more to the story, you probably won't get into any trouble. If you do, be sure to get a lawyer asap. And be sure not to say anything to the police until you do.

Good luck.

Read more
Answered on 11/18/15, 1:10 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Criminal Law questions and answers in South Dakota