Former University of Washington basketball player Venoy Overton pleaded guilty Tuesday in Kent to second-degree promoting prostitution and received a 30-day jail sentence.
A King County Superior Court judge sentenced Overton to 30 days in jail with nine days converted to community service in connection with the Kent case invoking an 18-year-old woman, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The sentencing range for second-degree promoting prostitution is one to three months.
Overton was scheduled to go to trial April 2, a trial date that had been continued several times as prosecutors and defense attorneys negotiated the case.
Overton, 23, of Seattle, posted bail June 30 after about two weeks in the county jail in Kent. He pleaded not guilty in late June to the charge of second-degree promoting prostitution.
The former Husky will serve no additional time in jail, according to an email from Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Overton received credit for 14 days served, nine days were converted to community service and he received seven days of good time credit during his stay in the county jail.
Kent Police began their investigation of Overton in May when undercover officers contacted an 18-year-old woman for prostitution activity on Pacific Highway South, a well-known area for prostitution in Kent. That woman told police that Overton had arranged for her to work the streets as a prostitute, according to charging papers.
Kent Police arrested Overton June 16 in Seattle for investigation of second-degree promoting prostitution. Overton graduated earlier in June from the UW.
The woman told police she met Overton in September 2010 and they started to date around Thanksgiving 2010. Cellphone records obtained through search warrants by detectives show Overton called the woman frequently between November 2010 and early June.
Overton reportedly told detectives he took the woman to the “track” (a term used for high areas of prostitution) because he knew he was going to get some money. He also told them he knew what he did was wrong and stated he screwed up.
When asked why he still did it if he knew it was wrong, Overton replied to detectives, “I’m not gonna turn down money from a girl.”
Overton ranks third all-time in UW history with 177 steals and fifth all-time with 390 assists. Overton led Franklin High School of Seattle to a state basketball title in 2006.
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