Can Pandering Be Charged If Victim Is Already a Prostitute?

While it may seem counter intuitive to some, one can be convicted of pandering in violation of California Penal Code § 266i(a)(2) even when the “victim” is already a prostitute, or at least represents herself to be one.  Indeed, section 266i(a)(2) reads:

        Any person who by promises, threats, violence, or by
        any device or scheme, causes, induces, persuades or
        encourages another to become a prostitute is guilty of
        pandering.

Therefore, when Jomo Zambria was charged with, later convicted and then appealed (People v. Zambria (2011 DJDAR 7998)), his argument was that “to become a prostitute” meant one could not be convicted of pandering if the “victim” is already a prostitute, or holds herself out to be.

What One Should Learn from This Article:  It is irrelevant if the victim is a prostitute in a pandering case.  Penal Code § 266i(A)(2) simply requires that defendant use threats, violence or promises to cause, induce, force or persuade another to engage in prostitution.  The word “to become” in the statute should be interpreted as “to engage.”

The underlying facts are that Zambria was caught in a police sting.  Officer Erika Cruz was working undercover as a street prostitute in Los Angeles.  Zambria drove by her, looked in her direction, did a u-turn in his truck and stopped about fifteen feet away from her.  He lowered his window and told Cruz to get into his truck.  When Cruz asked why, Zambria told her he was a pimp.


A search of Zambria’s car revealed multiple cell phones and condoms.  At the trial court level, an officer with experience in prostitution related crimes testified that it is common for pimps to have multiple cell phones and to provide prostitutes with condoms.

On appeal to the California Supreme Court, Zambria argued that the plain meaning of “to become” cannot apply to him because Cruz was posing as having already become a prostitute.  The prosecution argued that “to become” means to engage in future acts of prostitution, regardless of the victim’s status at the time of defendant’s encouragement.

The California Supreme Court rejected Zambria’s argument, citing to a 1973 case, People v Bradshaw (1973) 31 Cal.App.3d 421, which had analogous facts.  In Bradshaw, the Court of Appeal made it clear that “to become a prostitute” was broadly construed to include “changing business relations” to include defendant’s services.  The Supreme Court noted that the purpose of the statute was to prevent persons from expanding or augmenting a prostitute’s operations or to increase the supply of prostitutes.  When a pimp offers protection and support, it increases the likelihood that a prostitute can maintain or expand her activities.

The Supreme Court then went further, becoming somewhat sarcastic in tone.  Noting that Zambria’s argument could lead to mischievous and absurd results, for example, the court would have to determine whether the “victim” was an active prostitute and whether the “victim” was actually engaged in solicitation.  In addition, Zambria’s argument would necessitate analysis of whether the “victim” had other forms of employment.  Also, the court would need to determine if a “victim” who had not been plying her trade for weeks transformed her into an inactive prostitute.

Lastly, the Supreme Court noted that section 266i(a)(2) had been amended six times since 1973, when Bradshaw was determined, but the legislature had never changed the “to become” phrase, implying that the legislature intended to preserve the broad interpretation Bradshaw gave to the statute.


For more information about prostitution cases, click on the following articles:

1. What Is Penal Code § 647(b), Prostitution and Solicitation for Prostitution?
2. Beware: Living with a Prostitute Can Be Illegal and Land You in Prison
3. Appeals Court Affirms LAPD Officer’s Conviction for Solicitation of Prostitution (Penal Code § 647 (b))
   

For case summaries of selected sex offense cases our firm has handled, click here.

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