Conditional 18-Month Sentence for the Facilitation of Minors in Prostitution

A 27-year-old man has been sentenced to 18 months, with a minimum of six months to be served, for facilitating sexual services involving a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old girl through online platforms. This case, adjudicated at the Vienna Regional Court, also involved charges of pimping and illegal possession of narcotics.

The defendant was acquitted of several serious sexual offenses, including rape, sexual coercion, and violations of sexual autonomy, as the court found the testimonies of the alleged victims unconvincing. The presiding judge noted that the circumstances indicated more of a romantic involvement rather than coercion, referencing messages from the 15-year-old that expressed affection towards the defendant.

After the deliberation, the court deemed the defendant eligible for release since he had already served the six-month mandatory portion of his sentence while in pre-trial detention. The court's judgment is not yet final, as the defendant accepted the ruling after consulting with his legal counsel, while the prosecution opted not to comment.

The case surfaced when the defendant met the 15-year-old through a messaging application. Initially, she misrepresented her age, claiming to be 21, and later adjusted it to 18 when questioned about her youthful appearance, which satisfied the defendant's concerns. They quickly entered into a sexual relationship, during which the young girl disclosed her prior experiences selling photos online. This relationship prompted the defendant to suggest that she could engage in prostitution, assisting her with pricing and advertising her services.

According to the prosecution, the defendant also pressured the minor into introducing him to a 17-year-old, for whom he sought clients. Collectively, the two girls earned a total of EUR2,700; the older girl received EUR1,900 for four clients, while the 15-year-old was compensated EUR800 for unprotected sexual encounters. It was alleged that the girls were required to hand over half of their earnings to the defendant, a claim he denied during the proceedings.

When the defendant eventually learned that the 15-year-old was still a minor, he asserted that he would no longer associate with her. However, the judge highlighted a text conversation in which he had arranged to provide her with a toothbrush for an overnight stay, contradicting his claim of wanting to sever ties.