Fort Worth Prostitution & Solicitation Defense Attorney

Bryan Wilson, The Texas Law Hawk Defends Clients in Tarrant County Courts

Prostitution and solicitation charges in Texas carry consequences that reach far beyond a courtroom. A conviction follows a person through background checks, employment applications, and housing decisions for years. Since September 2021, the stakes got higher: Texas became the first state in the country to classify first-time solicitation of prostitution as a felony, raising what was once a misdemeanor matter to a charge that can land a person in state jail. Anyone facing these charges in Fort Worth needs a defense attorney who understands current Texas law and how these cases actually move through Tarrant County courts.

Bryan E. Wilson, known throughout Texas as the Texas Law Hawk, is a Fort Worth criminal defense attorney admitted to practice in all Texas state courts. He has been named to the Super Lawyers list every year from 2015 through 2022, recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2017 and 2018, and named among the Top Attorneys for Criminal Defense by Fort Worth Magazine each year from 2015 through 2022. Attorney Wilson communicates directly with clients rather than routing conversations through assistants or paralegals, and he approaches each case as its own set of facts rather than a file to process. The firm offers free initial consultations so clients can understand their options before committing to representation.

If you’re facing solicitation or prostitution charges in the Fort Worth area, contact the firm now at (817) 440-3953.

How Texas Law Defines Prostitution & Solicitation

Texas Penal Code Chapter 43 governs prostitution-related offenses, and the definitions are broader than many people expect. Under Section 43.02, prostitution occurs when a person knowingly offers or agrees to receive a fee in exchange for sexual conduct. Under Section 43.021, solicitation of prostitution occurs when a person knowingly offers or agrees to pay a fee to another person for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct. Texas law doesn’t require money to actually change hands. An offer or an agreement is enough for charges to apply under either statute.

Chapter 43 covers additional offenses beyond the two most commonly charged. Promotion of prostitution under Section 43.03 applies to anyone who knowingly profits from the prostitution of others or solicits a person to engage in prostitution for a fee. Compelling prostitution under Section 43.05 applies when someone causes another person to engage in prostitution through force, threat, coercion, or fraud, or causes a minor to engage in prostitution by any means. All of these offenses fall under Title 9 of the Texas Penal Code as offenses against public order and decency.

Texas Penalties for Prostitution & Solicitation Charges

The penalty structure for these offenses escalates significantly with prior convictions and the age of anyone involved. Under current Texas law, the charges break down as follows:

Prostitution (TPC § 43.02)
A first offense is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a fine up to $2,000. One or two prior convictions escalate the charge to a Class A misdemeanor, with up to 1 year in jail and a fine up to $4,000. Three or more prior convictions result in a state jail felony, punishable by 180 days to 2 years in state jail and a fine up to $10,000.

Solicitation of Prostitution (TPC § 43.021)
Under House Bill 1540, effective September 1, 2021, a first offense is now a state jail felony, punishable by 180 days to 2 years in state jail and a fine up to $10,000. A prior conviction escalates the charge to a third-degree felony, punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Soliciting a person under 18 is a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

Promotion of Prostitution (TPC § 43.03)
A first conviction is a third-degree felony, carrying 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. A prior conviction escalates it to a second-degree felony. When the offense involves a person under 18, it becomes a first-degree felony.

Compelling Prostitution (TPC § 43.05)
Compelling prostitution is a second-degree felony, and compelling a minor to commit prostitution is a first-degree felony punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Certain convictions involving minors also carry sex offender registration requirements.

Beyond incarceration and fines, any conviction for these offenses can surface on criminal background checks, affecting employment, housing applications, and professional licensing. When Attorney Wilson is involved early, there may be more options for challenging the evidence or the arrest itself.

Defense Strategies for Prostitution & Solicitation Cases in Fort Worth

Attorney Wilson begins each case with a thorough investigation: reviewing police reports, interviewing witnesses, and obtaining surveillance footage where available. Fort Worth Police Department and the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Department have conducted online prostitution sting operations across Tarrant County, arresting individuals who respond to ads placed by undercover officers, often before any money changes hands. Understanding exactly how an arrest was made shapes which defenses are available.

Defense strategies that may apply to these charges include:

• Entrapment: When law enforcement induced a person to commit an offense they wouldn’t have otherwise committed, entrapment is a recognized defense under Texas law. This argument is particularly relevant in online sting operations where undercover officers initiate contact before any agreement is reached.
• Lack of Intent: The prosecution must prove the defendant knowingly offered or agreed to engage in prohibited conduct. When the facts don’t support that element, challenging intent can weaken the charge.
• Misidentification: When law enforcement drew incorrect conclusions about who committed an offense or confused one person with another, this defense challenges the foundation of the prosecution’s case.
• Illegal Search and Seizure: Evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment can be challenged and may be excluded, which can undermine the prosecution’s case.
• Lack of Evidence: When witness testimony or physical evidence is thin, inconsistent, or unreliable, the prosecution may not be able to meet its burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Attorney Wilson also pursues dismissals, charge reductions, and plea negotiations, including deferred adjudication where applicable, depending on what the evidence and the specific facts of a case support. Each case is evaluated on its own merits, and no option is left unconsidered.

Why Fort Worth Clients Choose the Texas Law Hawk

Attorney Bryan Wilson isn’t a name attached to an anonymous firm. He is the person who handles the case, reviews the evidence, and communicates with the client directly. Clients who retain Bryan Wilson, The Texas Law Hawk work with Attorney Wilson himself, not through an assistant or paralegal.

His record of recognition reflects consistent performance over time. Attorney Wilson has been named the 2015 Lawyer of the Year by Above the Law, a Top Attorney by 360 West Magazine in 2018, and a Reader’s Choice Best Lawyer by Fort Worth Weekly Magazine in both 2016 and 2017. His work has drawn national media coverage from CNN, Fox News, ABC News, and the Huffington Post. He is a member of the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys and practices throughout Tarrant County, including at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth and surrounding courthouses.

Attorney Wilson offers free initial consultations to clients facing prostitution or solicitation charges in Fort Worth. Contact the firm online or call (817) 440-3953 to get started.