18-7-204 Keeping a Place of Prostitution in Colorado

Operating a whorehouse in Colorado

Section 18-7-204 of the Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.) makes it a crime to operate or keep a place of prostitution. This offense is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 12 months of jail and a fine of up to $1000.00.

18-7-204 (1) C.R.S. provides that:

Any person who has or exercises control over the use of any place which offers seclusion or shelter for the practice of prostitution and who performs any one or more of the following commits keeping a place of prostitution if he:

• (a) Knowingly grants or permits the use of such place for the purpose of prostitution; or
• (b) Permits the continued use of such place for the purpose of prostitution after becoming aware of facts or circumstances from which he should reasonably know that the place is being used for purposes of prostitution.

Examples of places of prostitution

Any facility can be a place of prostitution if it offers seclusion or shelter for the practice of prostitution. Examples of common places of prostitution can include:

• A house, apartment or trailer,
• A hotel or motel room,
• A bordello, whorehouse or dungeon,
• An office,
• A rented party space, or
• Any secluded place on private property.

Penalties for keeping a place of prostitution in Colorado

Keeping a place of prostitution is a Colorado class 2 misdemeanor. Consequences of keeping a place of prostitution can include:

• 3-12 months in jail, and/or
• A fine of $250-$1,000.

Defenses to keeping a place of prostitution

Common defenses to keeping a place of prostitution in Colorado include (but are not limited to):

• No prostitution took place on the premises,
• You didn’t control the property,
• The property was used without your knowledge or consent, or
• You didn’t know the location was being used for prostitution.

Related offenses

Colorado 18-7-204 C.R.S. keeping a place of prostitution is often charged along with other prostitution-related offenses.
Some of these include (but are not limited to):

• Prostitution — 18–7–201, C.R.S.
• Pandering — 18–7–203, C.R.S.
• Pandering of a child — 18-7-403, C.R.S.
• Keeping a place of child prostitution — 18-7-404, C.R.S.

Call us for help…

Colorado’s law against keeping a place of prostitution is intended to protect victims of prostitution and control prostitution-related crime. But in their eagerness to do so, police and prosecutors sometimes accuse innocent property owners.

Our Denver Colorado criminal defense lawyers know that a conviction for a prostitution-related offense can do more than just land you in jail. It can get you branded a sex peddler, even if you didn’t know what your property was being used for.

If you or someone you know has been accused of keeping a place of prostitution in Colorado, we invite you to contact us for a free consultation. We’ll actually listen to the circumstances of your case and ensure you get the best defense possible. If your loved one is in custody, we can also help with securing bail and release at any of the state detention centers, including the San Miguel County Jail.

To find out why we are considered among the best sex crimes lawyers in Denver, simply fill out the form on this page. Or call us at our Denver home office:

Colorado Legal Defense Group
4047 Tejon Street
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 222-0330