King County prosecutors press for tougher penalties for buyers, call for more survivor resources ahead of World Cup

Senior deputy prosecutors from the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office briefed the Seattle City Council Public Safety Committee on Jan. 27, urging the city and state to tighten penalties for buyers and expand survivor services.

"Human trafficking is defined as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of individuals through force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of exploitation," said Alex Voorhees, a senior deputy prosecutor, in opening the presentation. Voorhees and Bridal McGinnis outlined how Washington law treats exploitation of minors as a per se violation and stressed the prosecutorial focus on traffickers and buyers rather than prosecuting people for simple prostitution.

McGinnis told the committee that the office is backing House Bill 2526. "That bill directly addresses ... by increasing the crime of patronizing a prostitute to a class C felony," she said, and the proposal would "double the associated fines and fees" while directing revenue to survivor services. Prosecutors said they amended the bill to ensure funding would go to survivors rather than law enforcement and that the bill needed a committee vote by Feb. 4 during the short legislative session.

Prosecutors presented data and survivor research showing disproportionate impacts on Black, Native American and other BIPOC women, youth and LGBTQ+ people. The presenters cited a RISE report and national hotline data showing a high proportion of young people were first exploited as children and said online recruitment is increasingly common.

The prosecutors described severe violence and control tactics used by traffickers, including branding, forced sex, and threats. They gave a case example of a defendant identified as Winston Burt, whom county and federal prosecutors charged; he pleaded guilty and, according to the presentation, is serving over 10 years in prison.

Panelists urged urgent investments in services and facilities. "We have no place to take that child," a prosecutor said, describing difficulties finding immediate secure treatment or receiving centers for juveniles; she said waiting lists for treatment beds can run three to six months. The office asked jurisdictions to consider shared staff to help process large volumes of digital evidence and free detectives for fieldwork.

Speakers and council members also discussed the approaching FIFA World Cup. "Large scale tourist and sporting events lead to an increase in human trafficking," Voorhees said, noting county and state committees are discussing layered prevention strategies. The prosecutors suggested buyer-targeted public information campaigns and coordination to ensure resources are in place should cases increase.

Public commenters tied into the briefing: a community outreach director urged survivor-centered materials and care for privacy; another commenter urged redevelopment of the Aurora Avenue corridor and stronger legal action against motel owners; a remote commenter asked whether city staff had responded to subpoenas for license-plate and CCTV data. Chair Robert Kettle said his office has engaged with the city attorney and mayor's office and that no subpoenas for CCTV or ALPR data had been received to his knowledge.

The presentation did not propose a specific council ordinance; prosecutors requested the committee's attention to state legislation and highlighted service and budget needs. House Bill 2526 and related proposals will proceed through Olympia; the prosecutors asked the council to consider budget or policy actions that could support receiving centers, survivor services and a shared digital-evidence position.

The committee took no formal vote on a municipal proposal during the meeting. The briefing closed with an agreement among members and presenters that a multifaceted approach'criminal, civil, prevention and survivor services'is necessary and that further conversations and potential budget requests should follow.