There are a lot of consequences that can follow an arrest and conviction for a Minnesota prostitution offense. One of the most onerous consequences is having to register as a sex offender. Registering as a sex offender is a potential consequence for certain felony prostitution offenses.
Minnesota Sex Offender Registration Law
Minnesota law requires individuals convicted of certain sex crimes to register as “predatory offenders." Obviously, this carries a huge stigma and jeopardizes your ability to secure meaningful employment. But sex offender registration also opens registrants up to significant future criminal liability, because complying with Minnesota Predatory Offender law is anything but simple.
Persons subject to Minnesota's predatory offender registration are required to notify law enforcement of their primary address, all secondary addresses, all places of employment / school, and all vehicles owned or regularly driven by the offender. Failure to strictly comply with these registration requirements can result in a new felony-level charge of failure to register as a predatory offender.
Sex Offender Registration and Minnesota Prostitution Offenses
The severity levels for Minnesota prostitution offenses are determined, in part, by the age of victim. Soliciting an adult prostitute (18 years or older) is a misdemeanor level offense and, on its own, does not require sex offender registration. Soliciting a prostitute under the age of 18 is a felony-level offense. All felony-level prostitution offenses require registration. And what makes Minnesota’s predatory registration law so insidious is that if your case started out as a felony level offense, but it was pleaded down to a misdemeanor offense, you will still be required to register as a predatory offender because Minnesota only considers the initial charge (not conviction) when determining registration status.
Other Sex Offenses Requiring Predatory Offender Registration
A conviction for any of the following felony level offenses—or any offense arising from the same set of circumstances—requires registration under Minnesota’s Predatory Offender Law.
Child Pornography – possession or distribution of any amount of child pornography is a felony level offense.
Use of a minor in a sexual performance – using a minor child in any aspect of a pornographic or sexual performance is a felony offense.
Kidnapping and False Imprisonment – both offenses are felony level offenses and require registration.
Criminal Sexual Conduct — felony level offenses for any degree of criminal sexual conduct require registration. Only fifth degree criminal sexual conduct, as a first-time offense, is a gross misdemeanor offense. But remember that even misdemeanor convictions can carry predatory offender registration requirements.
Indecent Exposure – a subsequent violation for indecent exposure in the presence of a minor is felony level sex offense.
Learn more about Minnesota solicitation and prostitution law and how the Balmer Law Office can help in your case.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a sex offense, contact Minneapolis criminal defense attorney David Balmer for a free and confidential case evaluation.
