How A Dallas Prostitution Lawyer Defends You After An Arrest

Overview:

A Dallas prostitution lawyer can help if you’re arrested for prostitution or solicitation of prostitution after a traffic stop, online chat, or prostitution sting operation. Charges may involve undercover police, texts, ads, or recorded conversations, and defenses can include evidence suppression, Miranda rights issues, and entrapment arguments when supported by the facts.

A prostitution arrest in Dallas can feel like it came out of nowhere, especially after a traffic stop, an online chat, or a date that turns out to be an undercover operation. In many cases, the police and prosecutor move quickly, and you may be dealing with bond, court settings, and pressure to just take a deal.

At The Medlin Law Firm, our Dallas prostitution lawyer helps people accused of prostitution and solicitation of prostitution understand the charge, protect their rights, and build a defense plan based on the facts.

These cases often depend on what the police say you offered or agreed to. The prosecutor may still file charges even if no sex happened and no money changed hands. Texas has two different crimes: prostitution and solicitation of prostitution. The first step is to confirm which charge you are facing, because the rules and penalties can differ.

Texas law separates getting paid from offering to pay.

• Prostitution (Texas Penal Code § 43.02): offering or agreeing to receive a fee to engage in sexual conduct.
• Solicitation of Prostitution (Texas Penal Code § 43.021): offering or agreeing to pay a fee to engage in sexual conduct.

A Dallas prostitution lawyer usually starts by confirming the exact charge. That choice can affect what happens next in court.

Many people picture a street-corner arrest. In Dallas, cases often look different. They can involve phones, hotels, and undercover officers. Common situations include:

• Texts, apps, or emails that police say show an agreement.
• Hotel sting operations with an undercover officer or decoy.
• A meeting where police claim there was talk about sex and money.
• Recorded chats or calls used as evidence.

These cases can feel set up because many arrests happen during planned sting operations.

In prostitution and solicitation cases, the state often focuses on two main points: whether there was an agreement (or offer) and whether you had intent, meaning what you meant by your words or actions. You can be charged even if:

• No money was exchanged.
• No sex act happened.
• The meeting ended early.

Here’s a simple way to think about it:

A Dallas prostitution attorney may challenge whether police can prove who sent the messages, what the words meant, and whether officers followed the rules when collecting evidence.

Some people in these cases may be victims of trafficking or force. Texas law includes a defense in certain situations tied to being a victim of trafficking-related offenses. (Tex. Penal Code § 43.02). If that may apply, it can change how the case should be handled and what support the person may need.

People often assume a prostitution case is minor. That can be a costly mistake. In Texas, the penalty can jump fast based on your record and the facts of the arrest.

In most first-time cases, prostitution is charged as a Class B misdemeanor. This type of offense can carry up to 180 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,000. However, Texas law also allows enhancements for repeat cases. Under Texas Penal Code § 43.02, prostitution is:

• Class B misdemeanor for a first offense,
• Class A misdemeanor if the person has one or two prior prostitution convictions, and
• State jail felony if the person has three or more prior prostitution convictions.

A Class A misdemeanor in Texas can carry up to 1 year in jail and/or a fine up to $4,000. Meanwhile, a state jail felony can carry 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility and a fine of up to $10,000. (Tex. Penal Code § 12.35)

Solicitation of prostitution is treated more harshly in Texas than many people expect. The baseline charge is a state jail felony, even for a first offense. (Tex. Penal Code § 43.021)

The charge can increase in serious ways, including:

• Third-degree felony if the person has a prior conviction for solicitation (or certain prior prostitution history under older law).
• Second-degree felony if the person solicited someone under 18, even if they did not know the person’s age.

Those felony levels can bring long prison terms. For example, Texas sets the punishment range for a third-degree felony at 2 to 10 years. For a second-degree felony, the range is 2 to 20 years.

Even when a person avoids jail, a prostitution or solicitation case can still hurt. It can affect jobs, professional licenses, school, and housing. It can also follow you online, because arrest records and court entries can show up in background searches.

Many Dallas prostitution and solicitation arrests come from sting operations. These cases often start online, then move to a meeting location like a hotel or parking lot. The goal is usually to create messages and a meeting that police say proves an agreement.

A prostitution sting operation is planned ahead of time. Officers may act as a buyer, a seller, or a “go-between.” They may also use decoys or fake ads. Common setups include:

• Online chats that move to texting (apps, DMs, or email).
• A meeting arranged at a hotel or another set location.
• An undercover cop or decoy who talks about money and sex.
• Police watching the meeting from nearby, sometimes with cameras.

People often search “Dallas prostitution sting lawyer” because these cases can feel like a trap. The details matter a lot.

Sting cases usually depend on digital evidence. Police often try to collect proof before and during the meeting. They may point to:

• Texts, chat logs, or call recordings.
• A discussion about money (the fee) and what it was for.
• GPS, location data, or hotel records.
• Cash, marked bills, or a payment exchange.
• Video or audio from the scene.

Small facts can get blown up. One line in a chat can become the whole case.

A calm, simple plan helps. Many people hurt their case by trying to talk their way out of it. If you are arrested:

• Stay quiet. Do not explain, argue, or guess.
• Ask for a lawyer. Then stop talking.
• Do not consent to searches. You can say “I do not consent.”
• Get your bond information and your next court date.
• Save your messages. Don’t delete anything, even if it looks bad.

Do mind that you can exercise your Miranda rights in sex arrest cases. Here’s the simple rule: if police question you while you’re in custody, your statements can become evidence. It’s safer to ask for a lawyer and stop the interview.

After the arrest, you may need to deal with bail right away. Some people use bail bonds to get out while the case is pending. Once you’re out, the next step is usually court settings and building a defense plan early, before you feel pressured into a quick plea.

A prostitution or solicitation arrest does not mean the case is over. The state still has to prove the charge in court with usable evidence. A Dallas prostitution lawyer looks for weak points in the proof and mistakes in how the police built the case.

Many cases rise or fall on one question: can the state prove an actual offer or agreement? Under Texas law, the charge often turns on what was offered or agreed to, not on whether sex happened. Common proof problems include:

• No clear agreement. The messages are vague or full of slang.
• Wrong person. The state cannot prove who sent the texts or used the phone.
• Misread intent. The state assumes the meaning of words that can have other meanings.
• Weak identification. Lighting, distance, and confusion at the scene can matter.

Sometimes, a simple timeline also helps. If the agreement is not clear, the charge may not hold up.

People often ask: “Was I set up?” That depends on the facts.

Texas has an entrapment defense. It applies when a law enforcement agent uses persuasion or other methods likely to cause someone to commit an offense, not just giving an opportunity. In plain terms:

• Opportunity is usually allowed (like posting an ad or responding to a message).
• Pressure or heavy pushing may support an entrapment argument in the right case.

A prostitution defense law firm in Dallas can look closely at the messages and the officer’s conduct. The full chat history often matters more than one screenshot.

Even if police have evidence, it still must be collected the right way. Texas has an exclusion rule that can block evidence obtained in violation of Texas or U.S. law. (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 38.23)

Evidence issues can come up with:

• Illegal stops or searches.
• Phone searches without proper legal steps.
• Seized items that are tied to the arrest.
• Statements taken after improper questioning.

If key evidence is thrown out, the case may get weaker fast.

In many sting cases, police want you to talk. They may ask innocent questions that are not innocent at all.

Under Miranda, statements made during custodial questioning are generally only usable if you were warned of your rights and you knowingly waived them. That’s why we often tell clients: be polite, ask for a lawyer, and stop talking.

Some cases are built for trial. Others are built for negotiation. A strong defense can also improve the terms of a plea bargain when that is the safest path.

The Medlin Law Firm approaches prostitution and solicitation cases with a simple goal: find the best facts, challenge weak proof, and push for the best available outcome under the law.

A prostitution or solicitation arrest can put your freedom and your future on the line. The court process can feel confusing, and the pressure to take a deal can start right away. A case evaluation with The Medlin Law Firm gives you a clear view of what you’re facing and what you can do next.

If you can, gather:

• Your bond paperwork and next court date.
• Any charging papers you received.
• Screenshots or exports of relevant messages (do not delete anything).
• Names of witnesses who can help explain what happened.
• Any video, receipts, or location details you have.
• Notes about police contact (who spoke, what was asked, what was searched).

We start with the facts. Then we test the state’s proof. In many cases, that means digging into chats, recordings, police reports, identification, and how evidence was collected. We focus on practical goals:

• Protect your rights during the case
• Challenge weak proof and illegal evidence when it applies.
• Push for the best outcome available under the facts, whether that is dismissal, reduction, or a negotiated resolution.

If you need a Dallas prostitution attorney for a prostitution or solicitation charge, contact The Medlin Law Firm to schedule a free case evaluation.