Mo. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 567
Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 567.050 (2026)

Promoting prostitution in the first degree

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  567.050.  Promoting prostitution in the first degree — penalties — civil action for victims — restitution. — 1.  A person commits the offense of promoting prostitution in the first degree if he or she knowingly:

  (1)  Promotes prostitution by compelling a person to enter into, engage in, or remain in prostitution;

  (2)  Promotes prostitution of a person less than sixteen years of age; or

  (3)  Owns, manages, or operates an interactive computer service, or conspires or attempts to do so, with the intent to promote or facilitate the prostitution of another.  As used in this subdivision, the term "interactive computer service" shall mean any information service, system, or access software provider that provides or enables computer access by multiple users to a computer server, including specifically a service or system that provides access to the internet and such systems operated or services offered by libraries or educational institutions.

  2.  The term "compelling" includes:

  (1)  The use of forcible compulsion;

  (2)  The use of a drug or intoxicating substance to render a person incapable of controlling his conduct or appreciating its nature;

  (3)  Withholding or threatening to withhold dangerous drugs or a narcotic from a drug dependent person.

  3.  (1)  The offense of promoting prostitution in the first degree under subdivision (1) or (3) of subsection 1 of this section is a class B felony.

  (2)  The offense of promoting prostitution in the first degree under subdivision (3) of subsection 1 of this section is a class A felony if a person acts in reckless disregard of the fact that such conduct contributed to the offense of trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation under section 566.209.

  (3)  The offense of promoting prostitution in the first degree under subdivision (2) of subsection 1 of this section is a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment not less than ten years and not to exceed fifteen years.

  4.  A person injured by the acts committed in violation of subdivision (3) of subsection 1 of this section or subdivision (2) of subsection 3 of this section shall have a civil cause of action to recover damages and reasonable attorneys' fees for such injury.

  5.  In addition to the court's authority to order a defendant to make restitution for the damage or loss caused by his or her offense as provided in section 559.105, the court shall enter a judgment of restitution against the defendant convicted of violating subdivision (3) of subsection 1 of this section and subdivision (2) of subsection 3 of this section.

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(L. 1977 S.B. 60, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491, A.L. 2018 S.B. 793, A.L. 2019 H.B. 397)

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases, 1981–2016 · leading case: State v. Linder, 613 S.W.2d 918 (Mo. Ct. App. 1981).
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State v. Linder, 613 S.W.2d 918 (Mo. Ct. App. 1981). · cites it 8× “Appellant argues that the evidence fails to show beyond a reasonable doubt that she was guilty of violating § 567.050, RSMo 1978. That statute reads as follows: “567.”
ANN MARGARET WILLIAMS v. STATE OF MISSOURI, 501 S.W.3d 562 (Mo. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 3× “See sections 567.050 and 568.045. 1 Movant now appeals the “judgment” denying her amended motion for post-conviction relief (“the amended motion”) after an evidentiary hearing.”
State v. Gray, 761 S.W.2d 240 (Mo. Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 7× “A jury found Larry Gene Gray (“defendant”) guilty of the class B felony of promoting prostitution in the first degree, § 567.050, RSMo 1986, in that he promoted prostitution of C.”
State v. Charity, 637 S.W.2d 319 (Mo. Ct. App. 1982). “Sections 567.050 and 567.060 carve out of that overall definition the promotion of prostitution by what may be termed in an aggravated manner.”
State v. Fredrickson, 689 S.W.2d 58 (Mo. Ct. App. 1984). “922, said: The fact that appellant had previously engaged in prostitution, a fact not conceded by appellant, does not, by construction of the applicable statutes preclude prosecution for the promoting of prostitution under § 567.050. In other words, a prostitute, if warranted by…”
Broyles v. State, 785 S.W.2d 685 (Mo. Ct. App. 1990). · cites it 2× “090 RSMo 1978, and one count of promoting prostitution in the first degree, a Class B felony in violation of § 567.050 RSMo 1978. He was sentenced to serve a total of two years for the harassment counts and a consecutive term of ten years for the count of promoting prostitution…”
State v. Johnson, 714 S.W.2d 886 (Mo. Ct. App. 1986). “§§ 567.050, 567.060, R.S.Mo. (1978). Defendant was sentenced by the court as a persistent offender to a fifteen year term of imprisonment.”
Goodson v. State, 775 S.W.2d 189 (Mo. Ct. App. 1989). · cites it 4× “§ 567.050, RSMo 1986. Section 567.060 provides: 1.”
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