When Craigslist shut down the adult ads section of their website in the year 2010, many of their postings moved to Backpage.com. Investigations into the age of the women involved in the adult ads on this website have reportedly resulted in multiple arrests. According to a news report in The Palm Beach Post, a Fort Lauderdale man faces charges of facilitating underage prostitution after being arrested in June in south Florida. Officials believe he set up a 14-year-old girl with multiple “dates” and forced her to perform sex acts for money. He claims that he only bought her a phone and that she posted her own ads on Backpage.
Backpage admits to working with the authorities to root out underage prostitution. It is unclear as to how many others will face serious internet sex crime charges in Florida after buying an ad with the website or with publications such as The Village Voice that allows adult ads. In June, four alleged pimps were arrested in Homestead after using Backpage.com. The ads created a paper trail for authorities to track the men down.
There are many charges that can result from the prostitution of a child in Florida. Adults involved in these types of activities could face additional charges such as kidnapping, assault, child pornography, or sexual battery. When the alleged victim is under the age of 13, it may be a form of kidnapping or false imprisonment because it occurs without the child’s consent and a minor is legally unable to give consent, which can be charged as first degree felonies punishable by up to life in prison. This is a first-degree crime punishable by a life sentence in prison.
The skilled Fort Lauderdale prostitution defense lawyers at Musca Law have successfully handled cases involving various types of sex crimes. If you or a loved one has been accused of these serious crimes, please contact us at (888) 484-5057 for a no-cost consultation.