Pandering Defense in CaliforniaCalifornia Penal Code § 266i

Under California Penal Code section 266(i), it is illegal to procure (persuade) a person to become or remain a prostitute. Even if you are not receiving monetary compensation you can still be found guilty of pandering simply by facilitating prostitution or transporting prostitutes.

Pandering can be accomplished in the following ways:

Prostitution laws in California are set forth in Penal Code 647(b). You can be charged with prostitution, itself, if you engage in sexual activity in exchange for money or something of value. Often times, prostitution is a multi-faceted operation that also involves other actions that relate to prostitution. 

To convict a person of pandering, under PC 266 (i), the prosecution must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt that:

1. You did one of the following with the intention of encouraging someone to become or remain a prostitute:

AND

2. You intended to influence someone to be a prostitute
3. The person was either over the age of 16 or under the age of 16

Legal definitions to remember:

Under the law, a person becomes one year older as soon as the first minute of his or her birthday has begun.

Pandering by duress is defined as a direct or implied threat of force, violence, danger, hardship, or retribution that would cause a reasonable person to do something that he or she would not do otherwise.

It is worth mentioning that it does not matter whether the other person was already a prostitute or an undercover police officer to be accused of pandering. Also, in order to be convicted of pandering under PC 266 (i), it is required that an intended act of prostitution be with someone other than you, the defendant.

Proving these elements beyond a reasonable doubt means that at a jury trial, after hearing all of the evidence, if the jury has any reasonable doubt on any one of these things, then you cannot be found guilty. If the jury has any reasonable doubt that the defendant did any of the above-mentioned means to successfully persuade or attempt to persuade someone into becoming or remaining a prostitute, then that would be a not guilty verdict.

Consider the following example: Martha, a business owner, is unaware that some of her employees are prostituting themselves at her place of business. Martha would not be found guilty of pandering, because she had no idea of the prostitution at issue.

Examples of Pandering:

Josh runs an escort service. He uses various social media platforms and advertisement website to scout recent high school graduate. His ads promise young women large sums of money and housing in a Los Angeles Mansion in exchange for sexual services.

Sarah owes Melanie money. Melanie secures a spot in a brothel for Sarah and threatens to hurt her if she does not become a sex worker and pay off her debt. 

Prostitution, including pandering charges, often arise out of law enforcement schemes and undercover stings. Generally, entrapment happens if a law enforcement officer engages in conduct that would cause a normally law-abiding person to commit the crime. A law officer might entrap a person, by engaging in conduct that would make the commission of the crime unusually attractive to a normally law-abiding person to commit the crime. For example, insisting that the act is not illegal or offering an extraordinary benefit.

 A violation of Penal Code 261.5 is MISDEMEANOR IF: 

The defendant is no more than three years older than the minor—the penalties for this offense include:

• Informal probation
• A maximum one-year county jail sentence, and/or
• Up to one thousand (1,000) dollars in fines.

A violation of Penal Code 261.5 is either a MISDEMEANOR OR FELONY IF:

• The minor is more than three years younger than the defendant –

As a FELONY:

Incarceration of sixteen (16) months, two (2) years, or three (3) years

AS a MISDEMEANOR:

a maximum of one (1) year in county jail

• The minor is under 16 years of age and the defendant is over 21 years of age

AS a FELONY:

Incarceration for two (2), three (3), or four (4) years

As a MISDMEANOR:

               A maximum of one (1) year in county jail

 Civil Penalties for sexual intercourse with a minor in California:

In addition to criminal penalties, the defendant charged with statutory rape may also face civil penalties that must be paid in addition to serving time or paying criminal fines.

The maximum civil penalties will depend on the age difference between the adult and the minor:

Pandering charges rely on the fact that you knew about the prostitution. You must have intended to do an illegal act or know you are doing something illegal to be convicted of a crime. For example, you could have reasonably been unaware that they money you were receiving to pay for utilities was coming from prostitution.

It can be argued that the defendant never intended to commit a crime and that the act that took place was due to a mistake in facts. You can only be found guilty of pandering if you committed an act, with the purpose of encouraging a person to be a prostitute. This is a defense if it can be shown that the defendant did not act with that intent.

Sometimes it is possible that you are facing accusations because of lies and misunderstandings. The motive behind is sometimes for personal gain or revenge.  A well-versed attorney will work to bring to light false information and to uncover the truth.