The trial date for a Seattle man arrested in Kent and charged with promoting prostitution, leading organized crime, promoting sexual abuse of a minor and other charges, has been continued to June 19.
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 Feb. 23 at King County Superior Court in Kent.
“It was delayed in part because of ongoing witness interviews and review of discovery in the case,” according to an email from Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
The initial trial date was Sept. 19, which was continued until Nov. 14. That date was pushed out to February because Barbee had a new defense attorney.
Kent Police arrested Barbee in December 2010 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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