In May 2025, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court clarified the limits of the state’s sex trafficking statute. The court rejected the Commonwealth’s attempt to charge men who responded to online ads with trafficking, holding that their conduct did not meet the definition of that offense under G. L. c. 265, Section 50. This ruling matters for anyone facing solicitation or prostitution-related charges in Massachusetts, particularly in cases stemming from undercover operations.
If you have been charged with a sex crime in Massachusetts, especially after responding to an online ad, you may be unsure which charges the Commonwealth can lawfully pursue. This recent opinion makes clear that prosecutors cannot stretch trafficking statutes beyond their scope just to increase pressure on the accused. You need a defense lawyer who understands where police authority ends and where your legal protections begin.