Wsp Detective Charged With Patronizing Prostitute

Prosecutors have charged a Washington State Patrol trooper with patronizing a prostitute following a seven-week investigation.

WSP Detective Scott J. Cosner, 30, picked up a prostitute on East First Avenue in April and initially lied about the incident, according to Spokane police.

Cosner, assigned to the Spokane WSP detachment for five years, has been on paid administrative leave since the incident. He never was placed under arrest.

A police officer reported watching Cosner’s white Jeep drive down East First near Division about 1:30 p.m. on April 18.

Officer Bill Hager, who was in an unmarked car monitoring prostitution in the area, said he saw the Jeep drive away after a woman entered the vehicle.

The woman, Shelly Hoyle, has worked in the area as a prostitute, Hager said in a summary of the incident prepared by the WSP.

Hager followed as the Jeep turned east on Trent away from downtown. He pulled over the Jeep after seeing the woman reach toward the driver’s lap, the report said.

After giving identification to Hager, Cosner said Hoyle was a hitchhiker and he was giving her a ride to a friend’s house.

Later, after police interviewed Hoyle, Cosner admitted offering her $50 for sex, the WSP report said.

“It was an adrenaline thing,” Cosner told police later. He also told detectives he knew his actions were wrong but he “liked living on the edge.”

Cosner has two weeks to file a response to the complaint, Deputy Prosecutor Brian O’Brien said. A trial could then be set for July or August.

The standard sentencing range for patronizing a prostitute, a misdemeanor, is zero to 90 days in jail, O’Brien said.

The case was briefly referred to Spokane County’s serial killer task force, comprised of city, county and state officers. That occurred because the task force tries to review nearly all arrests connected with prostitution, O’Brien said.

Cosner is not considered a suspect in the murders.

Hoyle has been charged with one count of loitering for the purpose of prostitution. She said she got into Cosner’s car on April 18 after he pulled up next to where she was standing.

She said she asked him if he was a police officer. “No, are you?” he replied, according to the WSP report.

Cosner then asked if she had a safe place to go, and Hoyle told him she frequently drove to an area on East Trent, according to police.

Attempts to reach Cosner for comment Thursday were not successful.