North Carolina § 14-205 - 2. Patronizing a prostitute.

§ 14-205. 2. Patronizing a prostitute.

Any person who willfully performs any of the following acts with a person not his or her spouse commits the offense of patronizing a prostitute: Engages in vaginal intercourse, any sexual act as defined in G.S. 14-27.20, or any sexual contact as defined in G.S. 14-27.20, for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification with a prostitute. Enters or remains in a place of prostitution with intent to engage in vaginal intercourse, any sexual act as defined in G.S. 14-27.20, or any sexual contact as defined in G.S. 14-27.20, for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification. Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, a first violation of this section is a Class A1 misdemeanor. Unless a higher penalty applies, a second or subsequent violation of this section is a Class G felony. A violation of this section is a Class F felony if the defendant is 18 years of age or older and the prostitute is a minor. A violation of this section is a Class D felony if the prostitute has a severe or profound mental disability. History (2013-368, s. 5; 2015-181, s. 18; 2018-47, s. 4(f).) Editor's Note. - Session Laws 2015-181, s. 48, made the amendment to subdivisions (a)(1) and (a)(2) by Session Laws 2015-181, s. 18, effective December 1, 2015, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date, and further provided that: "Prosecutions for offenses committed before the effective date of this act are not abated or affected by this act, and the statutes that would be applicable but for this act remain applicable to those prosecutions." Session Laws 2018-47, s. 15, provides: "This act does not affect the coverage, eligibility, rights, responsibilities, or provision of State or federal services or benefits for individuals who have been diagnosed with mental retardation and whose diagnosis has not been changed to a diagnosis of intellectual disability." Session Laws 2018-47, s. 16, made the amendment of this section by Session Laws 2018-47, s. 4(f), effective December 1, 2018, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date. Effect of Amendments. - Session Laws 2015-181, s. 18, effective December 1, 2015, substituted "G.S. 14-27.20" for "G.S. 14-27.1" four times in subdivisions (a)(1) and (a)(2). For applicability, see editor's note. Session Laws 2018-47, s. 4(f), substituted "has a severe or profound mental disability" for "is a severely or profoundly mentally disabled person" in subsection (d). For effective date and applicability, see editor's note.