Interviewer: How does the promotion of prostitution differ from the act of prostitution as far as the new prostitution laws in Kansas are concerned? Are people looking at the same type of sentencing for those charges? Paul: There is a separate statute that prohibits promoting of the sale of sexual relations. In fact, I had a client just last week, who is a young 21 year old woman, whose friend asked her for a ride. The friend said she was going to meet some friends who were in from out of town.
In fact, her friend had set up an appointment with a John. It was one of the reverse sting operations where law enforcement was trying to catch and arrest prostitutes.
She was charged for having assisted or promoted the sale of sexual relations. Her defense is that she had no idea her friend was going over there to do anything improper. She genuinely believed she was giving her friend a ride to visit some friends who were in from out of town.
Interviewer: Are those charges subject to much stronger penalties? I think you had mentioned she was looking at maybe a felony even though this was her first offense. Paul: First offense for promoting the sale of sexual relations is a severity level nine felony offense. Second and subsequent offenses of promoting the sale of sexual relations is now a severity level seven felony offense; a very serious felony. Interviewer: There are obviously stricter laws in place for the pandering charges.
Realistically, are there many solicitation cases in Kansas? How many cases do you handle? Paul: My caseload is directly proportional to the number of sting operations that law enforcement is operating at any given time.
