South Carolina PROSTITUTION LAWS

South Carolina | Title 16 – Crimes and Offenses

SECTION 16-15-90. Prostitution; lewdness, assignation and prostitution generally.

It shall be unlawful to:

(1) Engage in prostitution;

(2) Aid or abet prostitution knowingly;

(3) Procure or solicit for the purpose of prostitution;

(4) Expose indecently the private person for the purpose of prostitution or other indecency;

(5) Reside in, enter or remain in any place, structure, building, vehicle, trailer or conveyance for the purpose of lewdness, assignation or prostitution;

(6) Keep or set up a house of ill fame, brothel or bawdyhouse;

(7) Receive any person for purposes of lewdness, assignation or prostitution into any vehicle, conveyance, trailer, place, structure or building;

(8) Permit any person to remain for the purpose of lewdness, assignation or prostitution in any vehicle, conveyance, trailer, place, structure or building;

(9) Direct, take or transport, offer or agree to take or transport or aid or assist in transporting any person to any vehicle, conveyance, trailer, place, structure or building or to any other person with knowledge or having reasonable cause to believe that the purpose of such directing, taking or transporting is prostitution, lewdness or assignation;

(10) Lease or rent or contract to lease or rent any vehicle, conveyance, trailer, place, structure or building or part thereof believing or having reasonable cause to believe that it is intended to be used for any of the purposes herein prohibited; or

(11) Aid, abet, or participate knowingly in the doing of any of the acts herein prohibited.

H2 – SECTION 16-15-100. Prostitution; further unlawful acts.

It shall further be unlawful to:

(1) Procure a female inmate for a house of prostitution;

(2) Cause, induce, persuade or encourage by promise, threat, violence or by any scheme or device a female to become a prostitute or to remain an inmate of a house of prostitution;

(3) Induce, persuade or encourage a female to come into or leave this State for the purpose of prostitution or to become an inmate in a house of prostitution;

(4) Receive or give or agree to receive or give any money or thing of value for procuring or attempting to procure any female to become a prostitute or an inmate in a house of prostitution;

(5) Accept or receive knowingly any money or other thing of value without consideration from a prostitute; or

(6) Aid, abet or participate knowingly in the doing of any of the acts herein prohibited.

SECTION 16-15-110. Prostitution; violations.

Any person violating any provision of Sections 16-15-90 and 16-15-100 must, upon conviction, be punished as follows:

(1) for the first offense, a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars or confinement in prison for a period of not more than thirty days;

(2) for the second offense, a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or imprisonment for not exceeding six months, or both;

(3) for the third or any subsequent offense, a fine not exceeding three thousand dollars or imprisonment for not less than one year, or both.

SECTION 16-15-415. Promoting prostitution of a minor defined; defenses; penalties.

(A) An individual commits the offense of promoting prostitution of a minor if he knowingly:

(1) entices, forces, encourages, or otherwise facilitates a minor to participate in prostitution; or

(2) supervises, supports, advises, or promotes the prostitution of or by a minor.

(B) Mistake of age is not a defense to a prosecution under this section.

(C) An individual who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not less than three years nor more than twenty years. No part of the minimum sentence may be suspended nor is the individual convicted eligible for parole until he has served the minimum sentence. Sentences imposed pursuant to this section must run consecutively with and must commence at the expiration of another sentence being served by the individual sentenced.

SECTION 16-15-425. Participating in prostitution of a minor defined; defenses; penalties.

(A) An individual commits the offense of participating in the prostitution of a minor if he is not a minor and he patronizes a minor prostitute. As used in this section, “patronizing a minor prostitute” means:

(1) soliciting or requesting a minor to participate in prostitution;

(2) paying or agreeing to pay a minor, either directly or through the minor’s agent, to participate in prostitution; or

(3) paying a minor, or the minor’s agent, for having participated in prostitution, pursuant to a prior agreement.

(B) Mistake of age is not a defense to a prosecution under this section.

(C) A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not less than two years nor more than five years. No part of the minimum sentence may be suspended nor is the individual convicted eligible for parole until he has served the minimum term. Sentences imposed pursuant to this section shall run consecutively with and shall commence at the expiration of any other sentence being served by the individual sentenced.