The trial date has been continued to Feb. 20 for a Seattle man arrested in Kent and charged with promoting prostitution, leading organized crime, promoting sexual abuse of a minor and other charges.
Shacon Fontane Barbee, 32, allegedly made at least $192,000 as a pimp during one eight-month period, according to charging papers filed against Barbee in July by King County prosecutors.
Barbee had been scheduled to go to trial Nov. 14, but the case was continued because he now has a new defense attorney, according to a Monday email from Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
The initial trial date was Sept. 19. Attorneys from either side can ask the court for more time to prepare a case. Defendants also sometimes enter a plea shortly before the trial starts.
Kent Police arrested Barbee Dec. 3 near a Kent hotel.
A then 19-year-old prostitute told detectives that she earned about $2,000 per week mainly from working along Pacific Highway South in Kent and Denny Way in Seattle. She gave all of that money to Barbee.
Barbee pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. The charges include three counts of promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor; first-degree promoting prostitution; second-degree promoting prostitution; and leading organized crime. He also is charged with three counts of first-degree theft in connection with wrongfully obtaining money from the Social Security Administration and one count of tampering with a witness.
Barbee could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted as charged. He remains in the county jail at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent with bail set at $500,000.
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