People v. Matthews

Melanie Matthews, the defendant herein, was convicted in the Circuit Court of Peoria County of the offense of soliciting for prostitution. The indictment under which she was tried set forth only the charge of pandering. We are asked to determine whether the court below correctly ruled that the offense of soliciting is a lesser included offense of pandering.

The evidence adduced at trial reveals that the defendant was employed by Cherie’s Body Shop, an escort service owned and operated by Ann Taylor. Her responsibilities as an escort were to go with a client to dinner or a show or some similar…