What Happens If I Am Charged with Promoting Prostitution (TCA § 39-13-515) in Memphis, TN?

One Charge Can Destroy Your Life, Career, and Reputation Forever

At Harvey Criminal Defense Lawyers, we defend people facing sex-related charges across West Tennessee. We’ve seen how these accusations destroy lives, and we know how to fight back when prosecutors try to make an example out of you.

Here’s what Tennessee law actually says, what you’re really facing, and what you need to do right now to protect your future.

What is Promoting Prostitution Under Tennessee Law?

Under TCA § 39-13-515, “promoting prostitution” means:

• Owning, controlling, managing, supervising, or in any way keeping a business for the purpose of engaging in prostitution, or a house of prostitution
• Procuring an inmate for a house of prostitution
• Encouraging, inducing, or otherwise purposely causing another to become a prostitute
• Soliciting a person to patronize a prostitute
• Procuring a prostitute for a patron
• Soliciting, receiving, or agreeing to receive any benefit for engaging in any of these activities

Important exception: The law states that “promoting prostitution” does not include a person who promotes themselves as a prostitute if “the person promoting the prostitute and the prostitute being promoted are the same person” and “the intent of the promotion is the solicitation of business for only the prostitute engaging in the promotion.”

Promoting prostitution of a minor is a separate, more serious charge that applies when “one or more of the persons engaged in prostitution is less than eighteen (18) years of age or has an intellectual disability.”

What Happens If I Am Charged with Promoting Prostitution?

If you’re charged with promoting prostitution in Memphis, you’re facing a Class E felony with serious immediate and long-term consequences.

What happens immediately:

• You’ll be arrested and booked into jail
• You’ll need to post bond or remain in custody
• You’ll be assigned a court date for arraignment
• The charges will become part of public record

What happens next:

• Prosecutors will review the evidence and decide whether to proceed
• You’ll need to appear in court for arraignment, pre-trial hearings, and potentially trial
• If convicted, you’ll face sentencing that could include prison time
• The felony conviction will remain on your record permanently

Long-term consequences:

• Employment barriers due to background checks
• Loss of professional licenses
• Housing difficulties
• Immigration consequences for non-citizens
• Possible sex offender registration requirements

What Are the Penalties for Promoting Prostitution in Tennessee?

Standard Penalty (Class E Felony):

• 1 to 6 years in prison
• Up to $3,000 in fines
• Felony conviction on your permanent record

Enhanced Penalties:

• Class A felony (3-15 years) if the person is more than 12 years of age but under 18 or with an intellectual disability as defined in § 33-1-101

And that’s just the legal consequences. The social and personal damage starts the moment you’re arrested.

Will Hiring a Lawyer Help?

Yes. Absolutely.

You might be thinking, “It’s just one charge—maybe I can handle this myself,” or “Won’t hiring a lawyer make me look guilty?”

Don’t make that mistake.

Promoting prostitution is a felony that can destroy your life. The prosecutors handling your case do this every day. They know the law, they know the judges, and they know how to get convictions.

You need someone on your side who knows how to fight back.

Can I Be Charged If I Didn’t Know It Was Prostitution?

Yes. This is one of the most dangerous aspects of Tennessee’s promoting prostitution law.

Prosecutors don’t have to prove you actually knew prostitution was happening. They only need to argue you “should have known” based on the circumstances.

Common scenarios where innocent people get charged:

Landlords who rent to massage businesses but never witness illegal activity. Website operators who host classified ads without screening every post. Business owners whose employees act independently after hours. Drivers who transport people for what they believe are legitimate reasons. Advertisers who create marketing materials without knowing the true nature of services.

The State might point to things like:

• High cash payments for rent
• Unusual business hours
• Frequent male visitors
• Vague advertising language
• Location in certain neighborhoods

But “should have known” is a subjective standard. What seems obvious to prosecutors in hindsight might not have been clear to you at the time.

That’s why early legal intervention is crucial. We can present evidence showing you had no actual knowledge and no reason to suspect illegal activity.

How We Defend Promoting Prostitution Cases in Memphis

Every case is different, but at Harvey Criminal Defense Lawyers, we explore every angle:

• Lack of Knowledge: You didn’t know prostitution was occurring at your business or property.
• No Intent to Promote: You may have been present, but you weren’t actively encouraging or facilitating prostitution.
• Entrapment: Police induced you to commit a crime you wouldn’t have committed otherwise.
• Insufficient Evidence: The State’s case relies on assumptions, not proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
• Constitutional Violations: Evidence was obtained through illegal searches or improper surveillance.

FAQs

Is prostitution legal in Memphis, TN?

No. Prostitution is illegal throughout Tennessee, including Memphis. Memphis police regularly conduct sting operations targeting all aspects of prostitution, including online advertising, massage parlors, and escort services.

What is the penalty for prostitution in Tennessee?

Prostitution itself is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 6 months in jail and fines up to $500. However, promoting prostitution is a felony with much harsher penalties, including 1-6 years in prison.

What’s the difference between promoting and patronizing Prostitution?

Patronizing Prostitution means paying for sexual services—typically a misdemeanor with fines and short jail time. Meanwhile, promoting prostitution means facilitating or organizing prostitution—a felony with prison time and lifetime consequences.

Can I be charged with promoting prostitution without actually engaging in prostitution myself?

Yes. You don’t have to personally engage in prostitution to be charged with promoting it. The charge focuses on facilitating, organizing, or benefiting from prostitution activities.

What if I were just renting property and didn’t know what was happening?

Landlords can be charged if prosecutors believe they knew or should have known about prostitution on their property. However, lack of actual knowledge is a valid defense.

Will I have to register as a sex offender if convicted?

Not necessarily. Promoting prostitution doesn’t automatically require sex offender registration unless there are aggravating factors like minors involved.

How long does the State have to file promoting prostitution charges?

The statute of limitations for promoting prostitution is typically 3 years from the date of the alleged offense. However, if minors are involved, the time limit may be extended.

Charged with Promoting Prostitution in Memphis? Fight Back Now

Every day you wait, prosecutors are building their case. Every day you delay, your options shrink. Every day you stay silent, the State gets stronger.

At Harvey Criminal Defense Lawyers, we’ve beaten these charges before. We’ve gotten cases dismissed. We’ve negotiated plea deals that avoided prison time and felony records. We’ve protected people’s careers, families, and futures.

But we can’t help you if you don’t call.

The consultation is confidential. The defense is aggressive. The time is now.

Don’t let one accusation destroy everything you’ve built.

Call us today. Your future depends on what you do next.