SEATTLE — Authorities say former Washington backup point guard Venoy Overton has been arrested in Seattle on suspicion of promoting prostitution.
Police Lt. Pat Lowery of suburban Kent said Overton was arrested Thursday in Seattle. In May, undercover officers contacted an 18-year-old woman about prostitution in an area known for the activity. Lowery says the woman told them her boyfriend, Overton, had brought her to the area and told her to perform acts of prostitution. Police say the woman added she’d been told what to charge and had given a portion of the money to Overton.
He was booked into jail in Kent and is expected to appear before a judge Friday. It was not immediately known if he was represented by a lawyer.
“I have been informed of the arrest of Venoy Overton and I am extremely disappointed, ” UW basketball coach Lorenzo Romar said in a statement. “My staff and I spent an extraordinary amount of time and energy attempting to mentor Venoy prior to his recent graduation, so this news is especially troubling.”
In late March, Overton was given a continuance on a charge of furnishing alcohol to a minor in a case involving two 16-year-old girls.
The Seattle Municipal Court action meant the charge would be dismissed if Overton avoided another criminal charge for a year and completed 24 hours of community service.
Romar suspended Overton for the Pacific-10 Conference tournament, but allowed him to return for the NCAA tournament. The senior guard’s college basketball career ended with the Huskies’ loss to North Carolina.
Overton recently graduated from UW.
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