The act of trading cash or other property for sexual contact is against the law in Illinois. Being charged with soliciting a prostitute can lead not only to criminal penalties, but also shame and embarrassment. If you have been accused of solicitation of a sexual act, you could face steep fines, jail time, and severe damage to your personal reputation and professional career. In some cases, your charges may be based on wrongful accusations. Regardless of your situation, it is essential that you speak with a criminal defense attorney right away if you are facing charges for any type of sexual offense.  

Many Prostitution Charges Are a Result of a Police Sting Operation

If you exchange money for some type of sexual activity in Illinois, you may be arrested and charged with soliciting a prostitute. However, you do not have to actually be caught in the act of trading money for sex in order to face prostitution charges. You can also be arrested for solicitation for simply agreeing to trade money or property for sexual activity. For example, if you plan an exchange with someone through a website like Craigslist, you could be charged with solicitation even if you never physically meet up with that person.

The Illinois Sex Offender Registry website is an Internet database that lists individuals who have been convicted of certain sex offenses. The database lists the names, addresses, photographs, and physical descriptions of perpetrators. It also includes information about the specific crimes for which the offender has been convicted. This information is available to anyone with access to the Internet, including friends, family members, neighbors, and potential employers. If you have been accused of a violent or sex-related crime, you should speak to a skilled criminal defense attorney as soon as possible to protect your future.

Types of Sexual Crimes

In some cases, a conviction is not needed for a criminal defendant to be required to register as a sex offender. A defendant may still be required to appear on the sex offender registry if he or she is found not guilty by reason of insanity, pleads no contest, takes a plea deal, and in other specific circumstances. Criminal offenses that require the offender to register as a sex offender include but are not limited to:

Criminal sexual assault is any act of sexual penetration in which the perpetrator uses threat or force; knows the victim is unable to give knowing consent; is related to the victim and the victim is over 18; holds some position of trust or authority over the victim who is age 17 or older; or is in supervisory care over the victim who is 13-17 years old. If you or someone you know has been charged with criminal sexual assault in Illinois, it is best to speak to a skilled criminal defense lawyer to plan your defense.

What Are the Punishments for Sexual Assault?

Charges for criminal sexual assault will vary, depending on the circumstances. A first offense is a Class 1 felony. However, if the perpetrator has a previous charge, he or she could face Class X felony charges, which could mean at least 30 years in prison. With a previous conviction of aggravated criminal sexual assault or predatory assault of a child, the punishment could be up to life in prison.

There is a wide range of sexual offenses in the state of Illinois, and all carry serious legal repercussions for a conviction. If you have been accused of sexual assault, sexual abuse, or some other sex crime, it is critical you contact an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. Your outcome may depend on your legal representation, as these charges carry the potential for decades or even life in prison. 

Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is generally defined as forcing or threatening another party to engage in a sexual act. An individual may be unable or unwilling to consent to an act if they are incapacitated, underage, or any number of other factors. In the case of aggravated sexual assault, a suspect may be accused of using a dangerous weapon during the attack, causing physical harm or life endangerment, assaulting an elderly or physically handicapped person, or additionally committing some other illegal activities beyond basic sexual assault. Predatory sexual assault of a child involves a victim under the age of 13.

Sex crimes are some of the most serious offenses a person can be charged with. Because of their violent and harmful nature, sex crime allegations are taken very seriously, and they also come with significant consequences if they result in a conviction. In Illinois, those convicted of certain offenses will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of their life. In these cases, a person’s information will be uploaded to the Illinois Sex Offender Registry website, and the offender’s name, where they live, their photo, and whether or not they are compliant with registration requirements will become publicly accessible.

Offenses Which Require Sex Offender Registration

For certain offenses, whether they are misdemeanor or felony charges, a person convicted of these charges will be required to register as a sex offender. These charges include, but are not limited to:

• Indecent solicitation of a child
• Sexual exploitation of a child
• Patronizing a juvenile prostitute
• Juvenile pimping
• Possession or distribution of child pornography
• Predatory criminal sexual assault of a child
• Aggravated criminal sexual abuse
• Forcible detention
• Indecent solicitation of an adult
• Pandering, patronizing, or pimping, if the victim is under 18
• Public indecency
• Permitting sexual abuse of a child
• Aggravated kidnapping
• Unlawful restraint

In order for a person to be required to register as a sex offender, they must also meet one of a few other criteria. These include: