Submitted by: Greg Hill

While it may seem counterintuitive 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.

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.

Cruz asked what Zambria meant. Zambria explained that he would take care of her. Cruz then told him she had $400 on her, to which Zambria demanded the money and said he would provide her with housing and clothing. Zambria then showed her a business card. Cruz then called in her backup and Zambria was arrested.

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 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.

As such, Zambria s conviction was affirmed.

About the Author: Greg Hill is a criminal defense attorney in Torrance, California. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy (Bachelor of Science, 1987), Boston University (M.B.A. 1994) and Loyola Law School (J.D. 1998). Visit his firm s website is at

greghillassociates.com

or call him at (310) 782-2500.

Source:

isnare.com

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