18 Jun 2013
The Austin Police Department said it was getting serious about cleaning up a stretch of South Congress Avenue. Officers made good on their threat, conducting the second sting operation this year targeting alleged prostitution in the area. The law enforcement efforts were prompted more by related crimes in the area than by prostitution itself. Police say that there have been 17 cases of sexual assault and rape since the beginning of the year between Oltorf Street and Sheraton Avenue, more such assaults than were reported in all of 2012.
The sting operation was fairly simple. Female police officers, posing as prostitutes, were approached by drivers. Once an arrangement was reached concerning the services and price, the men were told to go to a dead-end street in the area. When the “john” drove off, the vehicle was intercepted by uniformed officers from the APD, and the driver was arrested. A total of 21 arrests were made, including some suspects charged with additional offenses such as possession of drugs.
The offense of prostitution applies to anyone who engages or offers to engage in sexual conduct for a fee, as well as anyone who solicits someone in a public placed to engage in sexual conduct for hire. In short, you can be charged with prostitution whether you are the payer or the payee. Generally, it is a class B misdemeanor. But if you have a prior conviction or convictions, or if the person solicited is under the age of 18, the category of the offense, and the potential punishment, will increase.
The recent operation took place approximately ten days ago. A week after the arrests were made, it was reported that one of the men charged was the director of human resources for the nearby city of Georgetown. Interestingly, the article states that the man was charged with a class B misdemeanor, but has two prior prostitution convictions. Under the Texas Penal Code, assuming the report is accurate, this would allow for a class A misdemeanor charge.
In any event, the APD does not expect these operations to rid the area of these crimes; like many such police initiatives, the idea is to publicize the fact that if you choose to dabble in this sort of thing, or if you might be inclined to commit a more serious offense in the area, you may find yourself under arrest.
Law Office of David D. White, PLLC
1205 Rio Grande Street
Austin, TX 78701
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