Better Him Than Me

Regular readers will recall that, a few weeks ago, I postulated that certain aspects of our local prostitution forums put them directly at odds with Washington’s ‘promoting prostitution’ statute (Chapter 9A.88 RCW). And, some of you might also recall the angry and rather defensive rebuffs meted out by a certain anonymous commenter(s?).

Well, anonymous one(s), I hope you’re still out there because I have a little something that you might want to take a look at.

Holmes and his detectives started investigating the first website titled “Utah’s Independent Escorts” in early 2005. They were finally able to introduce an undercover female officer to act as a prostitute this year. She met with Williams and scheduled several appointments with male clients of the website. That led to Williams’ arrest. In recent years, Holmes says the internet has become a common vehicle for sex solicitation.

“Twenty years ago we had the circuit girls – prostitutes that would travel from city to city on a circuit like Salt Lake City, Vegas and Boise,” says Holmes. “Now all the circuit girls are the internet girls. Over 90 percent of travelling girls on the internet have pimps.”

Holmes says Williams was not charged as a pimp because he did not appear to profit from the prostitutes on his website. The two-year investigation also led to the arrest of at least 18 women for sex solicitation.

Important take-home points just for you, anonymous: the man was arrested merely for operating a website that advanced prostitution; he was NOT arrested for pimping, because he hasn’t been taking in any money; but making money from prostitution doesn’t appear to be a legal requirement for being a principle participant.

Yes, yes… I realize this happened in Utah. Yes, yes… I suppose that their laws might be significantly different than those in this state. But then, I’m not the one betting my ass on the legality of the whole thing, so hey… c’est la vie. What Tek does is his business. And, word is that he finally talked to a lawyer, so I’m sure it’s all good.

Another point to note here… this happened in Salt Lake City, which just happens to be the very same city where one of Portland’s more mouthy vocal prostitutes has been collaborating with the media. But that’s purely a coincidence, I’m sure.