567.030. Patronizing prostitution — penalty.
1. A person commits the offense of patronizing prostitution if he or she:
- Pursuant to a prior understanding, gives something of value to another person as compensation for having engaged in sexual conduct with any person; or
- Gives or agrees to give something of value to another person with the understanding that such person or another person will engage in sexual conduct with any person; or
- Solicits or requests another person to engage in sexual conduct with any person in return for something of value.
2. It shall not be a defense that the person believed that the individual he or she patronized for prostitution was eighteen years of age or older.
3. The offense of patronizing prostitution is a class B misdemeanor, unless the individual who the person patronizes is less than eighteen years of age but older than fourteen years of age, in which case patronizing prostitution is a class E felony.
4. The offense of patronizing prostitution is a class D felony if the individual who the person patronizes is fourteen years of age or younger. Nothing in this section shall preclude the prosecution of an individual for the offenses of:
- Statutory rape in the first degree pursuant to section 566.032;
- Statutory rape in the second degree pursuant to section 566.034;
- Statutory sodomy in the first degree pursuant to section 566.062; or
- Statutory sodomy in the second degree pursuant to section 566.064.
