Venoy Overton posted bail Thursday and is out of custody as he faces a charge of second-degree promoting prostitution in connection with an 18-year-old woman who he allegedly drove to Pacific Highway in Kent to engage in prostitution.
Overton, 22, of Seattle, was released from the King County jail at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent at about 5 p.m. Thursday, just several hours after King County Superior Court Judge Cheryl Carey reduced his bail from $150,000 to $25,000 after his arraignment. Overton, a former University of Washington basketball player, pleaded not guilty to the charge of second-degree promoting prostitution.
Carey agreed with defense attorney James Bible that bail should be reduced even though King County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Sean O’Donnell argued bail should remain at $150,000. Bible had sought for Overton to be released on personal recognizance.
“Although this is a very serious crime, there is no criminal history,” Carey said about the reason she reduced bail.
Bible said at the court appearance that Overton has “strong ties to this community” and “doesn’t have significant criminal history.”
The attorney also said that Overton had a place to stay with his significant other, a woman who showed up in court to support Overton.
Carey granted requests by the prosecutor that Overton have no contact with the 18-year-old woman connected with the prostitution case and that Overton will not be allowed to leave the state after his release from jail.
If convicted as charged, Overton faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Overton is scheduled to return to court July 14 when a trial date could be set or attorneys could ask for more time to prepare the case.
Kent Police began their investigation of Overton May 20 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.
Overton had been in jail since Kent Police arrested him June 16 in South Seattle for investigation of second-degree promoting prostitution.
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