New Arizona Felony Prostitution Law passed House 58-0 now to Senate
Since most politicians are buying the lie that all sexwork involves trafficking, the Arizona Legislature is at work to make it easier to put private consenting adults, web site owners and anyone who "encourages" in prison even beyond the current criminal enterprise law that has so many wonderful women facing felonies in Superior Court today.
HOUSE BILL 2454 passed the House 58-0 on 2/27/2014. It has been read in the Senate, passed out of Judiciary to Rules committee, read 2nd time in Senate and on 3/4/14 back to Senate Judiciary Committee. It appears to also have no opposition in the Senate and of course Gov Brewer will brag about signing it when it gets to her.
The hype of course is about the increased penalties for "child" prostitution but it has many provisions that are about consenting adults.
All escorts and massage therapists required to have license number on all ads. This expands to all of Arizona the Scottsdale, Phoenix and other cities licensing requirements which as far as I know no one has complied with. Positive identification is required for all customers, open place of business and of course nothing sexual can be offered. I have never seen an ad with an escort license number. This makes it easy when LE wants to do busts, boast that they are making cities safer and get more fines and fill up the jails. Scottsdale did mass busts last year when they made the licensing law criminal not civil. Dangerous sexy women that offer sexual pleasure seem to be a huge threat to the citizens of Arizona.
Bill provides a Class 5 felony for anyone who "encourages" anyone to be a prostitute or engage in an act of prostitution. Could this include website owners as "encouraging"? I bet County Attorney Montgomery would love the publicity of shutting down and imprisoning many more dangerous prostitutes even beyond his current aggressive prosecution of so many private consenting adults.
Increases mandatory prison terms if engage in child prostitution including age 17 ranging from 10-24 years in prison and not eligible for suspension or probation. Obviously we have no interest in under age 18 but that is the headline of the law vs its consenting adult inclusions.
Bill Title: "Human Trafficking; prostitution"
This is based on the abolitionist movement and under the Federal Trafficking Act that includes customers that "obtain" services of prostitutes are sex traffickers. This makes it easier to prosecute and fill up the Courts with more felony cases under Arizona law and is broader than the current "Criminal Enterprise" felonies so many escorts and massage women now face in Superior Court.
The war against consenting adult sexuality builds with almost no opposition.
I spent much of Friday afternoon with the most famous legal brothel owner in the U.S. who was in Court testifying in at a hearing on a motion in the Phoenix Temple case which I am reporting on in great detail elsewhere. He was very good and short excerpts were on Chan 12 and Chan 15 news (my head is shown briefly in a shot!). I has long discussion with him before and after his testimony. On the Arizona Central site (owns 12News) there is a slightly longer version as well as the interviews in 2012 after the raid from jail. A total of 37 were indicted.
http://www.azcentral.com/12news/arti...f-brothel.html
The 9th Circuit challenge to prostitution law is getting closer to raising the funds needed. But when the right case is found (with standing) it will take years of litigation.
There are zillions of felony prostitution cases I am trying to follow in Superior Court that have some good challenges to the Arizona prostitution law but as usual most are taking felony pleas for probation instead of risk long prison terms if convicted at a trial. Therefore, legal challenges are not tested by a judge and jury. Includes escorts, massage, goddesses, Tantra folks etc.
This of course doesn't include close to 400 rounded up in the Project Rose take them to the Church sweeps. Agree you are a "victim" and go to Catholic Charities "reprogramming" or go to jail.