Utah PROSTITUTION LAWS

Utah Prostitution Laws | Chapter 10 

76-10-1301. Definitions.

As used in this part:

(1) “Child” is an individual younger than 18 years old.

(2) “Place of prostitution” means a place or business where prostitution or promotion of prostitution is arranged, regularly carried on, or attempted by one or more individuals under the control, management, or supervision of another.

(3) “Prostitute” or “prostituted individual” means an individual engaged in an activity described in Subsection 76-10-1302(1) or 76-10-1313(1)(a), (c), (d), or (f).

(4) “Public place” means a place to which the public or any substantial group of the public has access.

(5) “Sexual activity” means, regardless of the gender of either participant:

(a) an act of masturbation, sexual intercourse, or any sexual act involving the genitals of one individual and the mouth or anus of another individual; or

(b) the touching of the genitals, female breast, or anus of one individual with any other body part of another individual with the intent to sexually arouse or gratify either individual.

76-10-1302. Prostitution.

(1) An actor, except for a child under Section 76-10-1315, is guilty of prostitution if the actor engages in sexual activity with another individual for a fee, or the functional equivalent of a fee.

(2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b) and Section 76-10-1309, a violation of Subsection (1) is a class B misdemeanor.

(b) Except as provided in Section 76-10-1309, an actor who is convicted a second time, and on all subsequent convictions, of a subsequent offense of prostitution under this section or under a local ordinance adopted under Section 76-10-1307, is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

(3) A prosecutor may not prosecute an actor for a violation of Subsection (1) if the actor engages in a violation of Subsection (1) at or near the time the actor witnesses or is a victim of any of the following offenses, or an attempt to commit any of the following offenses, and the actor reports the offense or attempt to law enforcement in good faith:

(a) assault, Section 76-5-102;

(b) aggravated assault, Section 76-5-103;

(c) mayhem, Section 76-5-105;

(d) aggravated murder, murder, manslaughter, negligent homicide, child abuse homicide, or homicide by assault under Chapter 5, Part 2, Criminal Homicide;

(e) kidnapping, child kidnapping, aggravated kidnapping, human trafficking or aggravated human trafficking, human smuggling or aggravated human smuggling, or human trafficking of a child under Chapter 5, Part 3, Kidnapping, Trafficking, and Smuggling;

(f) rape, Section 76-5-402;

(g) rape of a child, Section 76-5-402.1;

(h) object rape, Section 76-5-402.2;

(i) object rape of a child, Section 76-5-402.3;

(j) forcible sodomy, Section 76-5-403;

(k) sodomy on a child, Section 76-5-403.1;

(l) forcible sexual abuse, Section 76-5-404;

(m) sexual abuse of a child, Section 76-5-404.1, or aggravated sexual abuse of a child, Section 76-5-404.3;

(n) aggravated sexual assault, Section 76-5-405;

(o) sexual exploitation of a minor, Section 76-5b-201;

(p) aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, Section 76-5b-201.1;

(q) sexual exploitation of a vulnerable adult, Section 76-5b-202;

(r) aggravated burglary or burglary of a dwelling under Chapter 6, Part 2, Burglary and Criminal Trespass;

(s) aggravated robbery or robbery under Chapter 6, Part 3, Robbery; or

(t) theft by extortion under Subsection 76-6-406(2)(a) or (b).

76-10-1303. Patronizing a prostitute.

(1) An actor is guilty of patronizing a prostitute if the actor:

(a) pays or offers or agrees to pay a prostituted individual, or an individual the actor believes to be a prostituted individual, a fee, or the functional equivalent of a fee, for the purpose of engaging in an act of sexual activity; or

(b) enters or remains in a place of prostitution for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.

(2) Patronizing a prostitute is a class A misdemeanor, except as provided in Subsection (3), (4), or (5) or Section 76-10-1309.

(3) A violation of this section that is preceded by a conviction under this section or a conviction under a local ordinance adopted under Section 76-10-1307 is a class A misdemeanor.

(4) A third violation of this section or a local ordinance adopted under Section 76-10-1307 is a third degree felony.

(5) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(d), if the patronizing of a prostitute under Subsection (1)(a) involves a child as the other individual, a violation of Subsection (1)(a) is a second degree felony.

(b) In accordance with Subsection 76-2-304.5(5)(a), it is not a defense to a prosecution under Subsection (5)(a) that the actor mistakenly believed the individual to be 18 years old or older at the time of the offense or was unaware of the individual’s true age.

(c) An actor’s belief that the individual was under 18 years old at the time of the offense, even if the individual was 18 years old or older, is a violation of Subsection (5)(a).

(d) If the act committed under Subsection (5)(a) amounts to an offense that is subject to a greater penalty under another provision of state law than is provided under Subsection (5)(a), this Subsection (5) does not prohibit prosecution and sentencing for the more serious offense.

(6) Upon a conviction for a violation of this section, the court shall order:

(a) the maximum fine amount and may not waive or suspend the fine; and

(b) the defendant to pay for and complete a court-approved educational program about the negative effects on an individual involved with prostitution or human trafficking.

76-10-1304. Aiding prostitution.

(1) An individual is guilty of aiding prostitution if the individual:

(a) (i) solicits an individual to patronize a prostitute, or to patronize an individual the actor believes to be a prostitute;

(ii) procures or attempts to procure a prostitute, or an individual the actor believes to be a prostitute, for a patron;

(iii) leases, operates, or otherwise permits a place controlled by the actor, alone or in association with another, to be used for prostitution or the promotion of prostitution; or

(iv) provides any service or commits any act that enables another individual to commit a violation of this Subsection (1)(a) or facilitates another individual’s ability to commit any violation of this Subsection (1)(a); or

(b) solicits, receives, or agrees to receive any benefit for committing any of the acts prohibited by Subsection (1)(a).

(2) Aiding prostitution is a class A misdemeanor, except as provided in Subsection (3).

(3) An individual who is convicted a second time, and on all subsequent convictions, under this section or under a local ordinance adopted in compliance with Section 76-10-1307 is guilty of a third degree felony.

(4) Upon a conviction for a violation of this section, the court shall order the maximum fine amount and may not waive or suspend the fine.

76-10-1305. Exploiting prostitution.

(1) An individual is guilty of exploiting prostitution if the individual:

(a) procures an individual for a place of prostitution;

(b) encourages, induces, or otherwise purposely causes another to become or remain a prostitute;

(c) transports an individual into or within this state with a purpose to promote that individual’s engaging in prostitution or procuring or paying for transportation with that purpose;

(d) not being a child or legal dependent of a prostitute, shares the proceeds of prostitution with a prostitute, or an individual the actor believes to be a prostitute, pursuant to their understanding that the actor is to share therein; or

(e) owns, controls, manages, supervises, or otherwise keeps, alone or in association with another, a place of prostitution or a business where prostitution occurs or is arranged, encouraged, supported, or promoted.

(2) Exploiting prostitution is a felony of the third degree.

(3) Upon a conviction for a violation of this section, the court shall order the maximum fine amount and may not waive or suspend the fine.

76-10-1306. Aggravated exploitation of prostitution.

(1) A person is guilty of aggravated exploitation if:

(a) in committing an act of exploiting prostitution, as defined in Section 76-10-1305, the person uses any force, threat, or fear against any person;

(b) the person procured, transported, or persuaded or with whom the person shares the proceeds of prostitution is a child or is the spouse of the actor; or

(c) in the course of committing exploitation of prostitution, a violation of Section 76-10-1305, the person commits human trafficking or human smuggling, a violation of Section 76-5-308, 76-5-308.1, 76-5-308.3, or 76-5-308.5.

(2) Aggravated exploitation of prostitution is a second degree felony, except under Subsection (3).

(3) Aggravated exploitation of prostitution involving a child is a first degree felony.

(4) Upon a conviction for a violation of this section, the court shall order the maximum fine amount and may not waive or suspend the fine.

76-10-1307. Local ordinance consistent with code provisions.

An ordinance adopted by a local authority governing prostitution or aiding prostitution shall be consistent with the provisions of this part which govern those matters.

76-10-1308. Prosecution.

The following class A misdemeanors may be prosecuted by attorneys of cities and towns, as well as by prosecutors authorized elsewhere in this code to prosecute these alleged violations:

(1) class A misdemeanor violations of Section 76-10-1302; and

(2) class A misdemeanor violations of Section 76-10-1304.

76-10-1309. Enhanced penalties — HIV positive offender.

A person who is convicted of prostitution under Section 76-10-1302, patronizing a prostitute under Section 76-10-1303, or sexual solicitation under Section 76-10-1313 is guilty of a third degree felony if at the time of the offense the person is an HIV positive individual, and the person:

(1) has actual knowledge of the fact; or

(2) has previously been convicted under Section 76-10-1302, 76-10-1303, or 76-10-1313.