Court Opinion

ID: 9603623
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 02:08:19.619223+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:11:41.516681
License: Public Domain

Coleman, A.C.J.
(concurring)—I have signed the majority opinion. I write separately only to emphasize that the *486promoting prostitution statute "permits conviction for each distinct act [and] also contemplates a continuing course of conduct". State v. Gooden, 51 Wn. App. 615, 618, 754 P.2d 1000 (1988). Whether the crime may be charged as a continuing course of conduct or as involving separate distinct acts depends upon a commonsense evaluation of the facts of the case. State v. Petrich, 101 Wn.2d 566, 571, 683 P.2d 173 (1984).
The facts here even more so than in Gooden reflect a continuing course of conduct established by broad general evidence indicative of a continuing enterprise. Hence, it was proper to prosecute on the theory of a continuous course of conduct. On the other hand, in State v. Song, 50 Wn. App. 325, 329, 748 P.2d 273 (1988), the evidence was specifically directed to separate, distinct acts resulting in multiple convictions and consecutive sentences. Therefore, it is clear the charging decision must be made on a case by case basis, taking into account the nature of the evidence.