Paramus police make prostitution bust at local hotel
A 23-year-old Florida woman was arrested and charged with prostitution Wednesday after an undercover bust at a local Paramus hotel. According to the NJ.com article, the woman previously advertised her services online and an undercover detective made contact with her through the ad and responded to the local area hotel. After meeting the defendant at the hotel, she allegedly offered to perform a sexual act in exchange for money. She was arrested and charged with engaging in prostitution.
In New Jersey, prostitution and promoting prostitution offenses are governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:34-1 which provides in pertinent part:
§ 2C:34-1. Prostition and Related Offenses
b.A person commits an offense if:
(1)The actor engages in prostitution;
(2)The actor promotes prostitution;
(3)The actor knowingly promotes prostitution of a child under 18 whether or not the actor mistakenly believed that the child was 18 years of age or older, even if such mistaken belief was reasonable;
(4)The actor knowingly promotes prostitution of the actors child, ward, or any other person for whose care the actor is responsible;
(5)The actor compels another to engage in or promote prostitution;
(6)The actor promotes prostitution of the actors spouse; or
(7)The actor knowingly engages in prostitution with a person under the age of 18, or if the actor enters into or remains in a house of prostitution for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with a child under the age of 18, or if the actor solicits or requests a child under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity.
It shall be no defense to a prosecution under this paragraph that the actor mistakenly believed that the child was 18 years of age or older, even if such mistaken belief was reasonable.
It appears that the defendant in this case will be charged with a disorderly persons offense punishable by the following:
- Up to six (6) months in the county jail
- Up to a $1,000.00 fine
- A permanent criminal charge on your record (subject to expungement after five (5) years in some cases)
