Indecent Exposure and Prostitution

Overview of Indecent Exposure and Prostitution Charges and Allegations in Everett, Lynnwood, Marysville and the Rest of Snohomish County, Washington, as well as Skagit County and King County

Have you been charged with a Indecent Exposure and/or Prostitution charge? Contact Ashbach Law Offices today for a free consultation
Indecent Exposure and Prostitution Charges in Washington State - Chapter 9A.88 of the Revised Code of Washington

In Washington, Indecent Exposure and Prostitution-related crimes are covered in Chapter 9A.88 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). Both Indecent Exposure and Prostitution crimes are broken up into various degrees of seriousness, from simple misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors to felonies (Class B and Class C).

Indecent Exposure

Under RCW 9A.88.010, A person is guilty of indecent exposure if he or she intentionally makes any open and obscene exposure of his or her person or the person of another knowing that such conduct is likely to cause reasonable affront or alarm. There is an exception to the indecent exposure statute for breastfeeding (or expressing breast milk) in public.

Indecent exposure encompasses activities such as “flashing” or urinating in public, as well as others. The degree of seriousness (and thus penalty) depends in part on who the “victim” is, and whether the alleged perpetrator has an similar criminal history.

In general, indecent exposure is a misdemeanor. However, if the victim is a under the age of fourteen, the crime is a gross misdemeanor. If the defendant has been previously convicted of indecent exposure (or has a prior sex conviction), indecent exposure is punishable as a Class C felony.

Prostitution-related Crimes

Prostitution: Under RCW 9A.88.030, a person is guilty of prostitution if such person engages or agrees or offers to engage in sexual conduct with another person in return for a fee. “Sexual Conduct” means sexual intercourse or sexual contact. Prostitution is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1000 fine. It is no defense that the sex is consensual, nor is the gender of either party relevant.

Promoting prostitution: Promoting prostitution is punished more severely in Washington than prostitution itself. If the promoter is using force or threat of force, promoting prostitution is punishable as a class B felony. Otherwise, the promoter (who profits from or advances prostitution) may face Class C felony penalties.

Permitting prostitution: it is a crime to have possession of, or control of, premises that one knows is being used for prostitution, if he or she fails without lawful excuse to make reasonable efforts to halt or abate the use of the premises. Permitting prostitution, in a conviction is obtained, is punishable as a simple misdemeanor.

Patronizing a prostitute: If a person pays a fee to another as compensation for having sexual conduct with him or her (either to the “prostitute” or third party), or if a person agrees to pay a fee for such service, or if the person solicits or requests sexual conduct for a fee, the person may be punished by misdemeanor penalties. This means that paying for, agreeing to pay for, or requesting to pay for, sexual conduct/favors is a misdemeanor.

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Ashbach Law Offices, LLC, aggressively represents clients throughout the Washington I-5 corridor, covering Skagit, Snohomish, King and Whatcom Counties. Regular courts of practice include, but are not limited to, Anacortes, Arlington, Bellevue, Bellingham, Blaine, Burlington, Edmonds, Everett, Issaquah, Lake Stevens Lynnwood, Marysville, Monroe, Mount Vernon, Mountlake Terrance, Redmond, Seattle, Sedro Woolley and Shoreline.

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