Thursday, June 5, 2008

2 Seattle men convicted under new state juvenile prostitution law

2 Seattle men convicted under new state juvenile prostitution law | Seattle Times Newspaper, June 5, 2008:

Two Seattle men accused of coercing two 17-year-old Bellingham girls to work as prostitutes were convicted Wednesday of a new state law that toughens the penalties for people who force juveniles into prostitution.
So what's the new law? It took me a while to find it, since I started by searching for "prostitution" and the law doesn't use that word. In fact, if you don't follow the cross-references, you can't tell what sort of crimes are getting enhanced sentences under the law. So, in case you're also curious, I'll save you the work: RCW 9.94A.533 has a new subsection:
(9) An additional one-year enhancement shall be added to the standard sentence range for the felony crimes of RCW 9A.44.073 [Rape of Child in the First Degree], 9A.44.076 [Rape of a Child in the Second Degree], 9A.44.079 [Rape of a Child in the Third Degree], 9A.44.083 [Child Molestation in the First Degree], 9A.44.086 [Child Molestation in the Second Degree], or 9A.44.089 [Child Molestation in the Third Degree], committed on or after July 22, 2007, if the offender engaged, agreed, or offered to engage the victim in the sexual conduct in return for a fee. If the offender is being sentenced for more than one offense, the one-year enhancement must be added to the total period of total confinement for all offenses, regardless of which underlying offense is subject to the enhancement. If the offender is being sentenced for an anticipatory offense for the felony crimes of RCW 9A.44.073 [Rape of Child in the First Degree], 9A.44.076 [Rape of a Child in the Second Degree], 9A.44.079 [Rape of a Child in the Third Degree], 9A.44.083 [Child Molestation in the First Degree], 9A.44.086 [Child Molestation in the Second Degree], or 9A.44.089 [Child Molestation in the Third Degree], and the offender attempted, solicited another, or conspired to engage, agree, or offer to engage the victim in [the] sexual conduct in return for a fee, an additional one-year enhancement shall be added to the standard sentence range determined under subsection (2) of this section. For purposes of this subsection, "sexual conduct" means sexual intercourse or sexual contact, both as defined in chapter 9A.44 RCW.
(emphasis added)

No comments: