Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Re: arrest

The young woman was probably either an undercover officer posing as a teenager, or a civilian informant acting on behalf of the police. If she was an informant she was probably wearing a microphone and your conversation with her was probably recorded. The same could be true even if she was an undercover officer.

Penal Code section 653.22a involves loitering for purposes of prostitution, and can be used against either the would-be prostitute or the would-be customer. There is no section 647.6a(m), but section 647.6(a) covers child molestation and related offenses.

Based upon the charges, the police seem to believe you were cruising the neighborhood for an underage hooker. They may even have evidence -- either on tape or in the form of the young woman's testimony -- that she told you she was under 18 and that you and she agreed on a price for sexual services.

You need a good defense attorney right away. Your need is all the more dire if you told the police any lies after they pulled you over.