Wash. Rev. Code » Title 9A · Chapter 9A.88
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.88.070 (2026)

Promoting prostitution in the first degree

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) A person is guilty of promoting prostitution in the first degree if he or she knowingly advances prostitution:
(a) By compelling a person by threat or force to engage in prostitution or profits from prostitution which results from such threat or force; or
(b) By compelling a person with a mental incapacity or developmental disability that renders the person incapable of consent to engage in prostitution or profits from prostitution that results from such compulsion.
(2) Promoting prostitution in the first degree is a class B felony.
[ 2012 c 141 s 1; 2007 c 368 s 13; 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 s 9A.88.070.]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 37 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1979–2026 · leading case: State v. Shipp, 610 P.2d 1322 (Wash. 1980).
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State v. Shipp, 610 P.2d 1322 (Wash. 1980). · cites it 4× “RCW 9A.88.070,.080. *513 The second case involves a conviction for knowingly riding in a stolen car.”
State v. Yancy, 594 P.2d 1342 (Wash. 1979). · cites it 11× “060 provides in part: The following definitions are applicable in RCW 9A.88.070 through 9A.88.090: ... *155 (2) "Profits from prostitution.”
State v. Barrington, 761 P.2d 632 (Wash. Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 6× “RCW 9A.88.070, "Promoting prostitution in the first degree", reads in pertinent part: (1) A person is guilty of promoting prostitution in the first degree if he knowingly: .”
State v. Clark, 283 P.3d 1116 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 6× “In 2007, the legislature eliminated the provision in RCW 9A.88.070 addressing promoting prostitution of a person less than 18 years old and enacted the *193 separate crime of commercial sexual abuse of a minor.”
State v. Nelson, 874 P.2d 170 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 4× “Here, drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of the State, we find that Cahoon’s statement — "I’m supposed to *393 get at least $30” — is prima facie sufficient to establish the crime charged. Specifically, one can reasonably infer from Cahoon’s statement that she was under…”
State v. Simon, 831 P.2d 139 (Wash. Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 4× “RCW 9A.88.070 provides: 9A.88.070 Promoting prostitution in the first degree.”
State v. Cann, 595 P.2d 912 (Wash. 1979). · cites it 2× “The following definitions are applicable in RCW 9A.88.070 through 9A.88.090: *195 (1) "Advances prostitution.”
State v. Simon, 840 P.2d 172 (Wash. 1992). · cites it 2× “Bartol, a person who was less than 18 years old", in violation of RCW 9A.88.070(1)(b). 1 One day before trial, the prosecutor amended the information to charge both this means of committing first degree promotion of prostitution and the means requiring the use of threat or force.”
State v. Barbee, 386 P.3d 729 (Wash. 2017). “” Former RCW 9A.88.070(1)(a), .080(1)(a), .090(2) (Laws of 1975,1st Ex.”
State v. Zuanich, 593 P.2d 1314 (Wash. 1979). · cites it 2× “The following definitions are applicable in RCW 9A.88.070 through 9A.88.090: "(1) `Advances prostitution.”
State v. Mohamed, 301 P.3d 504 (Wash. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 2× “at 518 (emphasis added) (alteration in original) (quoting former RCW 9A.88.070(1) (1975)). Id. at 519. Id.”
State v. Knutz, 161 Wash. App. 395 (Wash. Ct. App. 2011). “2d 1033 (1989), Division One of our court addressed an argument similar to Knutz’s, where a defendant charged with one count of first degree promoting prostitution under RCW 9A.88.070(1) was convicted of the single charged count based on evidence of many individual acts of…”
Show all 37 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.88.070(1) — 13 cases
State v. Shipp, 610 P.2d 1322 (Wash. 1980). “RCW 9A.88.070,.080. *513 The second case involves a conviction for knowingly riding in a stolen car.”
State v. Clark, 283 P.3d 1116 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). “In 2007, the legislature eliminated the provision in RCW 9A.88.070 addressing promoting prostitution of a person less than 18 years old and enacted the *193 separate crime of commercial sexual abuse of a minor.”
State v. Mohamed, 301 P.3d 504 (Wash. Ct. App. 2013). “at 518 (emphasis added) (alteration in original) (quoting former RCW 9A.88.070(1) (1975)). Id. at 519. Id.”
State v. Knutz, 161 Wash. App. 395 (Wash. Ct. App. 2011). “2d 1033 (1989), Division One of our court addressed an argument similar to Knutz’s, where a defendant charged with one count of first degree promoting prostitution under RCW 9A.88.070(1) was convicted of the single charged count based on evidence of many individual acts of…”
State v. KNUTZ, 253 P.3d 437 (Wash. Ct. App. 2011).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.88.070(1)(a) — 6 cases
State v. Barbee, 386 P.3d 729 (Wash. 2017). “” Former RCW 9A.88.070(1)(a), .080(1)(a), .090(2) (Laws of 1975,1st Ex.”
State v. Barbee (Wash. 2017).
State Of Washington v. Joseph William Davenport (Wash. Ct. App. 2018).
State Of Washington, V. Jeremy Fenney (Wash. Ct. App. 2021).
State Of Washington, V. Samuel Leon Dugan (Wash. Ct. App. 2026).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.88.070(1)(b) — 6 cases
State v. Yancy, 594 P.2d 1342 (Wash. 1979). “060 provides in part: The following definitions are applicable in RCW 9A.88.070 through 9A.88.090: ... *155 (2) "Profits from prostitution.”
State v. Barrington, 761 P.2d 632 (Wash. Ct. App. 1988). “RCW 9A.88.070, "Promoting prostitution in the first degree", reads in pertinent part: (1) A person is guilty of promoting prostitution in the first degree if he knowingly: .”
State v. Simon, 840 P.2d 172 (Wash. 1992). “Bartol, a person who was less than 18 years old", in violation of RCW 9A.88.070(1)(b). 1 One day before trial, the prosecutor amended the information to charge both this means of committing first degree promotion of prostitution and the means requiring the use of threat or force.”
State v. Craven, 849 P.2d 681 (Wash. Ct. App. 1993).
In the Matter of the Pers. Restraint of: Edward Leon Nelson (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.88.070(2) — 3 cases
State v. Clark, 283 P.3d 1116 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). “In 2007, the legislature eliminated the provision in RCW 9A.88.070 addressing promoting prostitution of a person less than 18 years old and enacted the *193 separate crime of commercial sexual abuse of a minor.”
State of Washington v. Edward Leon Nelson (Wash. Ct. App. 2024).
In the Matter of the Pers. Restraint of: Edward Leon Nelson (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.88.070(l)(a) — 3 cases
State v. Simon, 831 P.2d 139 (Wash. Ct. App. 1991). “RCW 9A.88.070 provides: 9A.88.070 Promoting prostitution in the first degree.”
State v. Modest, 944 P.2d 417 (Wash. Ct. App. 1997).
State v. Simon, 840 P.2d 172 (Wash. 1992). “Bartol, a person who was less than 18 years old", in violation of RCW 9A.88.070(1)(b). 1 One day before trial, the prosecutor amended the information to charge both this means of committing first degree promotion of prostitution and the means requiring the use of threat or force.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.88.070(l)(b) — 4 cases
State v. Nelson, 874 P.2d 170 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994). “Here, drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of the State, we find that Cahoon’s statement — "I’m supposed to *393 get at least $30” — is prima facie sufficient to establish the crime charged. Specifically, one can reasonably infer from Cahoon’s statement that she was under…”
State v. Yancy, 594 P.2d 1342 (Wash. 1979). “060 provides in part: The following definitions are applicable in RCW 9A.88.070 through 9A.88.090: ... *155 (2) "Profits from prostitution.”
State v. Gooden, 754 P.2d 1000 (Wash. Ct. App. 1988).
State v. Simon, 831 P.2d 139 (Wash. Ct. App. 1991). “RCW 9A.88.070 provides: 9A.88.070 Promoting prostitution in the first degree.”
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