Published: Thursday, March 4, 2010
Bikini barista told to stay out of trouble; no jail time
EVERETT — A former Everett bikini barista accused selling more than lattes at a Grab-n-Go espresso stand vowed this morning to stay out of trouble so she can avoid spending time behind bars.
City prosecutors agreed to stay action in the woman’s case for two years. In return, the Kirkland woman, 21, must not commit any new crimes or violate the city’s adult entertainment ordinances. If she complies with those terms, the city will drop two misdemeanor charges against the woman, including operating without an adult entertainment license and violating the standards of conduct of the ordinance.
As part of the agreement, city prosecutors today dropped two prostitution charges against the woman.
Everett Municipal Court Judge Timothy O’Dell warned the woman to toe the line or she’d be brought back into court and likely found guilty of the charges.
“I will impose jail time if you don’t follow through,” O’Dell said.
The woman also agreed that she would testify against four other baristas also charged with prostitution and violating city ordinances. So far, only one barista has indicated that she plans to take her case to trial. The others are expected to accept plea agreements similar to the one offered the Kirkland woman. All of them are due back in court later this month.
City deputy prosecutor Leslie Tidball said it isn’t uncommon to offer such agreements to people who don’t have any previous criminal history.
“We like to give folks an opportunity to be successful and maintain a clean record at the same time we want to put a stop to the conduct affecting the public,” she said.
The woman’s attorney Brian Ashbach of Marysville said he was confident that his client would have been acquitted of the prostitution charges. The other charges would have been more difficult to avoid, he said.
O’Dell told the woman he didn’t need to lecture her. All the attention the case has drawn was enough, he said.
“Hopefully, I won’t see you again,” O’Dell said.
City prosecutors agreed to stay action in the woman’s case for two years. In return, the Kirkland woman, 21, must not commit any new crimes or violate the city’s adult entertainment ordinances. If she complies with those terms, the city will drop two misdemeanor charges against the woman, including operating without an adult entertainment license and violating the standards of conduct of the ordinance.
As part of the agreement, city prosecutors today dropped two prostitution charges against the woman.
Everett Municipal Court Judge Timothy O’Dell warned the woman to toe the line or she’d be brought back into court and likely found guilty of the charges.
“I will impose jail time if you don’t follow through,” O’Dell said.
The woman also agreed that she would testify against four other baristas also charged with prostitution and violating city ordinances. So far, only one barista has indicated that she plans to take her case to trial. The others are expected to accept plea agreements similar to the one offered the Kirkland woman. All of them are due back in court later this month.
City deputy prosecutor Leslie Tidball said it isn’t uncommon to offer such agreements to people who don’t have any previous criminal history.
“We like to give folks an opportunity to be successful and maintain a clean record at the same time we want to put a stop to the conduct affecting the public,” she said.
The woman’s attorney Brian Ashbach of Marysville said he was confident that his client would have been acquitted of the prostitution charges. The other charges would have been more difficult to avoid, he said.
O’Dell told the woman he didn’t need to lecture her. All the attention the case has drawn was enough, he said.
“Hopefully, I won’t see you again,” O’Dell said.
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