Washington v. Cann

The appellant was convicted of a violation of RCW 9A.88.080(1)(b) (promoting prostitution in the second degree) upon testimony of volunteer agents of the Seattle Police Departments vice squad. According to the evidence, a female agent posing as a prostitute caught the appellants eye as he was driving into a parking lot, and in the brief exchange which followed, he told her she needed some kind of protection. They exchanged telephone numbers. She later contacted him by phone and they arranged to meet at a restaurant. They were joined at the restaurant by another agent, also posing as a prostitute, and the appellant invited the two to establish themselves at a house of prostitution which he said he maintained. The agents invited the appellant to their hotel room. Once there, the negotiations continued for a few minutes until police officers entered the room and made the arrest.