The trial date has been continued yet again for a man who reportedly made as much as $200,000 as a pimp in Kent and Seattle.
Shacon Fontane Barbee, 34, of Seattle, faces charges of promoting prostitution, leading organized crime, promoting sexual abuse of a minor and other offenses. He had been scheduled for trial July 22 but that date was continued to Aug. 12, said Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
“It’s supposed to be the last continuance of the trial date,” Donohoe said.
Defense attorney Brian Todd requested the continuance because of, “ongoing interviews – all law enforcement interviews are being completed,” Todd said, according to King County Superior Court documents.
Barbee has waived his right to a speedy trial. Barbee did not sign the latest continuance in his case. Instead of his signature, the court document states, “declines to sign but does not raise an objection at this time.”
Earlier continuances also were granted because more time was needed to complete witness interviews.
Barbee had an initial trial date of September 2011 after his arrest by Kent Police in December 2010. If convicted as charged, Barbee could face up to 15 years in prison.
Barbee remains in the county jail at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. Bail was set at $500,000. He allegedly made at least $192,000 as a pimp during one eight-month period, according to charging papers filed.
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.
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