Prostitution Attorney in Naples

Former Prosecutors Defending Prostitution & Solicitation Charges in Collier County

A prostitution or solicitation arrest in Naples moves fast. Law enforcement can make an arrest before any money changes hands or any act occurs, and the State Attorney’s Office moves toward prosecution quickly. What you do in the hours after an arrest matters. Our criminal defense team at Law Offices of Cavanaugh & Cavanaugh, P.A. defends clients charged under Florida’s prostitution statutes in Naples, throughout Collier County, and across the Twentieth Judicial Circuit.

Our team brings over 50 years of combined criminal defense experience and includes a former Special Victims Unit prosecutor from Lee County who knows how those investigations are built from the inside. Daniel Cavanaugh also served as Misdemeanor and Juvenile Chief in Collier County, giving our firm ground-level familiarity with how local courts process these cases at every level. We offer free consultations and bilingual representation in English and Spanish.

If you or someone you know is facing a prostitution or solicitation charge in Naples, don’t speak to law enforcement before speaking with us. Call (239) 309-2006 to schedule a confidential, free consultation.

What Florida Statute 796.07 Covers

Florida Statute 796.07 reaches well beyond the act of prostitution itself, which the statute defines as giving or receiving the body for sexual activity for hire. No money needs to exchange hands. No sexual act needs to take place. An arrest can follow an agreement alone.

The statute also criminalizes a broad range of related conduct:

• Owning or operating a location used for prostitution
• Transporting a person for purposes of prostitution
• Purchasing sexual services
• Soliciting, inducing, enticing, or procuring another person to commit prostitution
• Deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution (charged separately under Fla. Stat. 796.05 and treated as a more serious offense)

The soliciting and procuring provision under subsection 796.07(2)(f) carries enhanced penalties one full degree higher than the standard track at every level. That distinction matters significantly when evaluating exposure and building a defense.

Penalties & Collateral Consequences Under Florida Law

Florida’s prostitution statute uses two penalty tracks. Where a charge falls on those tracks determines the range of exposure a client faces.

Standard Penalty Track

The standard track applies to engaging in prostitution, purchasing sexual services, operating a location, or transporting someone for prostitution:

• First violation: Second-degree misdemeanor, up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine
• Second violation: First-degree misdemeanor, up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine
• Third or subsequent violation: Third-degree felony, up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine

Enhanced Penalty Track for Soliciting or Procuring

The enhanced track under 796.07(2)(f) can carry a $5,000 civil penalty in addition to criminal penalties:

• First violation: First-degree misdemeanor
• Second violation: Third-degree felony
• Third or subsequent violation: Second-degree felony, up to 15 years in prison

Additional Consequences

Beyond incarceration and fines, Florida law requires mandatory STD screening upon conviction. When the conduct involves a minor, charges can escalate to human trafficking, a first-degree felony. For third or subsequent standard violations, a pretrial intervention or substance abuse treatment program under Fla. Stat. 948.08 may be available. Repeat offenses and certain aggravated charges can also carry collateral consequences, including difficulty obtaining employment, housing restrictions, and potential sex offender registration obligations.

Defense Strategies for Naples Prostitution & Solicitation Cases

Entrapment is the most commonly raised defense when an arrest follows a sting operation. These are situations where law enforcement posed as a buyer or seller of sexual services. A defendant who can demonstrate they were induced to commit an act they wouldn’t otherwise have committed may have a viable path to contesting the charge. Florida law also permits a police officer to testify as an offended party in prosecutions under Fla. Stat. 796.07, which shapes how sting-based evidence is presented at trial and how we prepare to challenge it.

Other defenses depend on the specific facts of the arrest and the evidence gathered:

• Lack of intent or no agreement reached
• Misidentification
• Constitutional challenges to how evidence was obtained
• Whether the alleged conduct meets the statutory definition of prostitution or assignation
• Misunderstanding of the nature of the transaction

In cases involving potential felony charges, negotiating diversion, pretrial intervention, or a reduction in charge severity are strategic options we evaluate based on what the record actually shows. Daniel Cavanaugh’s background as a former prosecutor gives our firm direct insight into how the State Attorney’s Office builds these cases in Collier County. That insight informs case strategy.

Local Court Experience That Shapes Case Strategy

Prostitution and solicitation cases in Collier County are handled at different court levels depending on the severity of the charge. Misdemeanor charges are resolved in County Court. Felony charges go to the Collier County Circuit Court within the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, where sentencing guidelines and prosecution intensity increase significantly. Knowing how to operate at both levels, and understanding the priorities of local prosecutors and the expectations of Collier County judges, directly affects how a defense is built.

Daniel Cavanaugh’s tenure as Misdemeanor and Juvenile Chief in Collier County means he worked inside that system, not just appeared before it. That familiarity shapes how we approach plea negotiations, diversion eligibility, and trial preparation for each client.

Talk to a Naples Prostitution Defense Lawyer Today

A conviction under Florida’s prostitution statutes carries consequences that extend well beyond the courtroom. Our firm can review the facts of your case confidentially, explain your exposure honestly, and develop a defense strategy tailored to your situation. We serve clients in English and Spanish.

Contact Law Offices of Cavanaugh & Cavanaugh, P.A. to schedule your free consultation. Call (239) 309-2006 or reach us through our online contact form.