Have you ever heard of pandering? In Colorado, pandering can be a very serious crime, whether you’re familiar with it or not.
An accusation of pandering can ruin your relationships, tank your career, and destroy your reputation. That’s why it’s vital to not only understand what it is and how you can be charged with it – but also what the outcome can be if you are found guilty, and your life is changed forever.
Here is what you need to know about pandering in Colorado.
Pandering: What Is It?
In Colorado, pandering is defined when someone induces another for money through criminal intimidation or menacing to commit prostitution. It can also be committed if someone arranges or offers to arrange prostitution knowingly.
So, it’s basically a situation in which someone attempts to find or offers to find a prostitute to engage in sexual activity with someone else. Sometimes, even giving someone directions to a place of prostitution can count as pandering.
Some may consider these types of acts to be pimping, but it’s actually a completely separate offense in Colorado. Pandering can also be elevated if there is a minor involved or threats were used.
What Are the Penalties for Pandering?
Most of the time, pandering is a misdemeanor offense. However, it can be elevated to a felony in certain cases where threats are issued or the prostitute is someone under the age of 18.
If you are convicted of arranging prostitution knowingly, then it is a Class 3 misdemeanor. That can mean you serve up to six months in jail and pay up to $750 in fines.
If intimidation or menacing is involved, then it can be a Class 5 felony. Penalties for this level of a felony include up to three years in prison and fines of as much as $100,000.
Finally, if the person you are accused of prostituting is under the age of 18, then severe penalties can result. These types of charges can conclude with the requirement to register as a sex offender if you’re found guilty, as well as spending ample time in prison and paying high fines.
Possible Defenses to Pandering
If you are charged with pandering, don’t just ignore it, because it seems like an esoteric crime. This is a serious charge that can result in a criminal record for you – which can impact the rest of your life. That’s why it’s vital to bring an experienced attorney onto your case as soon as you can. They will explain the charges against you, your rights, and help you to formulate a robust defense.
While each case is different, there are some common defenses used by attorneys to fight back against pandering charges. These include:
False Accusations
If you were not the one doing the pandering and had nothing to do with it, then this can be backed up by evidence, such as witness testimony, and used as a viable defense.
You Didn’t intimidate Anyone
While this is a bit of an affirmative defense, the elevated charges against using intimidation and menacing call for defense If you didn’t use these tactics.
You Didn’t Know You Were Pandering
If you were simply giving someone directions or got caught up in circumstances you didn’t understand, then that can be a good defense. After all, part of committing pandering under the law is knowing that you were doing it.
About the Author:
Kimberly Diego is a criminal defense attorney in Denver practicing at The Law Office of Kimberly Diego. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and her law degree at the University of Colorado. She was named one of Super Lawyers’ “Rising Stars of 2012 & 2019” and a “Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Colorado” for 2012-2020 by The National Trial Lawyers. Both honors are limited to a small percentage of practicing attorneys in each state. Additionally, Expertise names her to its lists of the 25 Best Denver DUI Lawyers and 21 Best Denver Criminal Defense Lawyers, both in 2020. Ms. Diego has also been recognized for her work in domestic violence cases.
