Colorado “Pandering” Laws & Penalties (§ 18-7-203 CRS)

What is pandering of a prostitute?

In Colorado, “pandering” is the crime of taking money to arrange for someone to hire a prostitute. It is what we commonly think of as pimping. Pandering is usually a misdemeanor in Colorado, punishable by up to 120 days in jail. However, pandering can be charged as a felony when:

• Menace or intimidation is used, or
• The prostitute is under age 18.

As a felony, pandering can carry a sentence of up to 3 years in a Colorado state prison. To help you better understand the Colorado crime of pandering, our Colorado criminal defense lawyers discuss the following:

• 1. Pandering vs Pimping
• 2. Sentencing
• 3. Defense Strategies

1. Pandering vs Pimping

In Colorado, what we often think of pimping is actually the crime of pandering. Section 18-7-203 (1) C.R.S. defines pandering as follows:

Any person who does any of the following for money or other thing of value commits pandering:

• • (a) Inducing a person by menacing or criminal intimidation to commit prostitution; or
  • (b) Knowingly arranging or offering to arrange a situation in which a person may practice prostitution.

Pimping, 18-7-206 C.R.S., on the other hand, involves knowingly living in whole or in part on money made by another person working as a prostitute. It is possible to be charged with both pandering and pimping.

2. Sentencing

Felony pandering

Pandering is a Colorado class 5 felony if you use menace or intimidation to induce another person to commit prostitution. Felony punishment for pandering can include:

• 1-3 years in prison, and/or
• A fine of $1,000-$100,000.

Misdemeanor pandering

Knowingly arranging a situation in which a person may practice prostitution is a Colorado class 2 misdemeanor. Consequences of misdemeanor pandering can include:

• Up to 120 days in jail, and/or
• A fine of up to $750.

Additional consequences of Colorado pandering

In addition to the criminal penalties set forth above, a conviction for pandering subjects you to a mandatory fine of between $5,000 and $10,000. The fine will go to Colorado’s prostitution enforcement cash fund.¹

Pandering of a child under 18

Pandering of a child under 18 is an exceptionally serious felony under 18-7-403 C.R.S. In addition to the possibility of decades in prison, pandering of a child requires you to register as a Colorado sex offender. For more information, please see our article on 18-7-403 C.R.S., pandering of a child under 18.

3. Defense Strategies

There are numerous defenses to pandering in Colorado. Common ones include (but are not limited to):

• You have been falsely accused,
• You didn’t receive anything of value,
• You didn’t menace or intimidate anyone,
• You didn’t know you were introducing someone to a prostitute,
• Entrapment or other police misconduct.

For Additional Help… You can reach us by filling out the form on this page, or call us at our convenient Denver home office: Colorado Legal Defense Group 140 E 19th Avenue, Suite 500 Denver, Colorado 80203 In California? Go to our article on California pandering laws (Penal Code 266h & 266i PC). In Nevada? See our article on Nevada pandering laws (NRS 201.300(1)).

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