California Penal Code Section 653f is a serious law that criminalizes the act of soliciting someone to commit certain crimes. In simple terms, the crime of Solicitation involves facilitating, encouraging, promoting, asking, pleading, commanding, enticing, inviting, recruiting, urging, or promoting another person to commit a crime.
It's crucial to understand that contact with another person to commit a crime can occur through almost all means of communication. The key elements of the crime are the actual words used to encourage another person to commit a crime, the specific intent to carry out the crime, and whether the other person received the communication.
It's important to note that the consequences of solicitation can be severe. You could be found guilty of solicitation to commit a crime even if the crime that was solicited was not completed. In fact, the crime does not even have to be initiated, or the person solicited to commit the crime does not even have to agree to be guilty.
By law, merely asking someone to commit a crime, regardless of the specific crime, constitutes soliciting the commission of a crime. However, it's important to note that not all California crimes are covered by Penal Code Section 653f, so it's crucial to be aware of the specific laws.
An example of a solicitation to commit a crime could include a situation where someone is in a California state prison and discovers his girlfriend is dating another man. He writes a letter to a friend on the outside asking them to seriously assault the guy with a weapon to send a message to stay away from her. His letter is received by his friend, who decides not to assault to avoid trouble.
The return letter is intercepted by prison officials who routinely monitor outgoing mail, and they discover the inmate was soliciting someone to commit a crime. In this example, the inmate could be charged with violating California Penal Code Section 653f, solicitation of someone to commit a crime. Again, it does not matter if the solicited crime was actually completed; just the request is sufficient to support the charge.
If you have been accused of soliciting the commission of certain crimes, you need to consult with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer at Eisner Gorin LLP immediately. Don't make any statements to police detectives, as you might incriminate yourself. Let's examine some legal definitions below.
What is the Legal Definition?
Under California Penal Code Section 653f, solicitation to commit a crime is legally defined as follows:
- Every person who solicits another person to accept, bribe, commit carjacking, robbery, burglary, grand theft, receiving stolen property, extortion, perjury, kidnapping, arson or assault with a deadly weapon, or any item that can cause great bodily injury, or, uses threats or force to prevent a person from becoming a witness from testifying, shall be punished by incarceration in a county jail by up to one year, a fine up to $10,000, or both a fine and jail.
California Crimes Included Under PC 653f
The list of crimes that are covered under Penal Code Section 653f, solicitation to commit a crime, includes the following:
- Robbery,
- Burglary,
- Kidnapping,
- Carjacking,
- Assault with a deadly weapon,
- Arson,
- Grand Theft,
- Receiving stolen property,
- Extortion,
- Forgery,
- Perjury,
- Dissuading a witness.
Call a Los Angeles criminal lawyer at our office for addition information on soliciting the commission of certain crimes under California Penal Code Section 653(f).
Most Common Related Offenses
- California Penal Code Section 653f(b) - Solicitation to Commit Murder - If you solicit another person to commit a murder, it's a felony crime, and the legal penalties can include a California state prison sentence of 3, 6, or 9 years.
- California Penal Code Section 653f(c) - Solicitation to Commit a Sex Crime – if you solicit another person to commit a sex crime, such as rape by force or violence, sodomy by force or violence, oral copulation by force or violence, it's a felony crime with a legal penalty of up to 4 years in a California state prison. Additionally, if you are convicted of soliciting someone to commit a sex crime, it will carry a lifetime registration as a sex offender.
- California Penal Code Section 653f(d) - Solicitation to Commit a Drug Crime - if you solicit another person to commit a drug crime, such as sale or transportation of a controlled substance, it's a misdemeanor crime with a legal penalty of up to 1 year in a Los Angeles County jail.
Legal Penalties for Soliciting a Crime
Solicitation of other offenses, as outlined in California Penal Code 653f, is known as a “wobbler.” This means the prosecutor has the discretion to file the case as either a misdemeanor or a felony offense.
A misdemeanor conviction can carry up to 1 year in a county jail. A felony conviction can carry a penalty of 16 months to 3 years in a county jail.
If you are convicted of solicitation of a crime, the legal penalties can have a significant impact on your life. In addition to any potential jail or prison sentence, you will also face a probation or parole term, lose your professional license, face deportation if you are an undocumented immigrant, and lose your firearm rights.
Elements of the Crime
In order for the Los Angeles County prosecutor to obtain a conviction, they must be able to prove, beyond any reasonable doubt, the following elements of the crime:
- You encouraged or requested another person to commit a crime;
- You intended the other person to commit the crime;
- The other person received your communication.
The crime of soliciting someone to commit a crime is typically proven with the testimony of at least two witnesses, or the testimony of just one witness, and corroborating evidence.
The witnesses are normally people who were solicited. Corroborating evidence is any evidence that connects you with the commission of the crime and is separate from the evidence provided by the witness.
Corroborating evidence could include your conduct, acts, or statements that have a tendency to connect you to the solicitation of a crime offense. As stated above, the person who was solicited doesn't have to agree to commit the crime, and the prosecutor doesn't even have to prove that the intended crime was actually committed, or even attempted, to obtain a conviction.
Legal Defenses for Soliciting a Crime
Our Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer can use a variety of legal strategies to defend you against charges of soliciting someone to commit a crime. Each case will have its own set of unique facts and circumstances.
The potential legal defenses include insufficient evidence, as the prosecutor must have at least two witnesses or one witness and corroborating evidence. This is critical for your defense as you can't be convicted can't if the prosecutor can't produce either one.
Our criminal lawyers may also be able to show you were falsely accused by another individual who is attempting to avoid prosecution themselves. Other potential legal defenses include entrapment, double jeopardy, and coerced confession, among many others.
Suppose we can convince the prosecutor that their witnesses are unreliable or that they lack sufficient corroborating evidence. In that case, they may potentially decide to reduce or even dismiss the charges against you.
Contact a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you are under criminal investigation or have already been charged with soliciting someone to commit a crime, in violation of California Penal Code Section 653f, contact a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at Eisner Gorin LLP.
Let our lawyers review the specific details in order to prepare a strong legal defense strategy. We are experienced courtroom negotiators and may be able to prevent a formal filing of charges through pre-filing intervention. We provide a free, immediate response.
Call our office at 877-781-1570. Eisner Gorin LLP 1875 Century Park East #705 Los Angeles, CA 90067 310-328-3776
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