Man arrested for allegedly promoting prostitution

ASOTIN — A 39-year-old Potlatch man was arrested this week on a warrant for second-degree promoting prostitution in Clarkston. 

Harry L. Young III is accused of driving a prostitute to dates, including a meeting at a Clarkston hotel last winter that was reportedly for $400 per hour. Instead of a client, a police officer and FBI agent had set up the date.

The warrant for Young was issued in December, with the help of the FBI, because of his alleged involvement in a human trafficking operation in Clarkston. According to court documents, women were advertising on websites and offering sex for payments, and Young was reportedly involved in the arrangements. He was arrested Tuesday in Clarkston. 

“The task force’s primary concern is to seek out and arrest human traffickers, such as ‘pimps.’ Pimps are usually males who have coerced usually females to work for them for very little compensation but security,” according to the probable-cause affidavit filed in Asotin County Superior Court. “A pimp will make most, if not all, of the profit from the act in which the female completed.” 

When questioned by police in December, Young said he was in a dating relationship with the woman, and he knew she advertised for sex online and had been doing so for the last two to three years. He denied being a pimp, but said he does commonly drive her to dates and is available if something goes wrong. 

Young told police he sometimes gets money from the woman for driving her, and the number listed on the websites is his phone number, according to court records. 

His bond was set at $7,500 Wednesday in Superior Court. Young is being represented by attorney Randy Reed, and his arraignment is set for Aug. 5. Deputy Prosecutor Jaime Young is handling the case on behalf of the state. 

Young remains in custody of the Asotin County Jail.

Sandaine can be reached at kerris@lmtribune.com. You can follow her on X @newsfromkerri.