There was sufficient evidence of solicitation for prostitution where appellant, a police officer, gave a woman he had arrested money and told her to meet him at a motel after she was released on her own recognizance. A jury found appellant Mecano, a police officer, guilty of solicitation for prostitution and other related offenses. On appeal, Mecano contended that because he never explicitly requested sex for money, there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction for solicitation of prostitution. The appellate court found that Mecano’s words, coupled with his overt acts, constituted sufficient evidence of the offense. Although Mecano did not explicitly say he wanted sex from the woman in exchange for money, he said many things that implied this. After the woman’s arrest, he told her he could help her out and get her released on O.R., but that she would owe him. Once she was released from custody, he gave her $200 and told her to take a cab to the Holiday Inn, where she should shower and wait for him. He flattered her and told her he would be angry if she “burned him” for the money. When she did not show up at the motel, he tried to track her down by repeatedly calling the cab company to find out where she had been dropped off. From this evidence, the jury could reasonably conclude that Mecano specifically intended to solicit sex from the woman.
Case Summaries