Tag Archives: prostitution

The Minnesota Star Tribune reports: Minnesota state Sen. Justin Eichorn allegedly arranged to meet someone he thought was a teenage girl for prostitution and instead was arrested by police in Bloomington, authorities announced Tuesday. After Eichorn’s arrest, the Senate Republican Caucus said in a statement, “We are shocked by these reports, and this alleged conduct demands an immediate resignation. Justin …

Minneapolis’s Fox affiliate reports: A Minnesota Senator from Grand Rapids was arrested, accused of soliciting a minor for prostitution. Sen. Justin Eichorn, 40, was arrested on March 17 in Bloomington. The Bloomington Police Department says they communicated with a man who thought he was talking to a 16-year-old girl. On March 17, a detective arranged to meet with him near …

The Christian News reports: A Texas megachurch pastor retired last month following an arrest for solicitation of prostitution at a massage parlor. The Rev. John F. Fiedler led the 15,000-member Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, until his retirement on Dec. 31, 2024, church records show. Police documents allege that Fielder was caught in a prostitution bust carried out …

Mediaite reports: Matt Gaetz filed a suit against the House Ethics Committee on Monday seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent the public release of a scathing report resulting from an investigation into allegations of his sexual and drug misconduct. According to CBS congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane, Gaetz’s argued in his bid for a restraining order to block the report’s …

ABC News reports: The House Ethics Committee obtained records, including a check and records of Venmo payments, that appear to show that then-Rep. Matt Gaetz paid more than $10,000 to two women who were later witnesses in sexual misconduct probes conducted by both the House and the Justice Department, according to documents obtained by ABC News. The Venmo records show …

ABC News reports: Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, allegedly paid for two women in 2019 to travel to New York to have sex, watch his appearance on Fox News, and attend the Broadway show “Pretty Woman,” an attorney for the women told ABC News. In an interview with ABC News’ Juju Chang, Florida attorney Joel …

The Daily Beast reports: The lawyer for two women who testified to the House Ethics Committee that former Rep. Matt Gaetz paid them for “sexual favors” said Monday that one of the forms in which they were paid was the PayPal of Nestor Galban, whom Gaetz calls his “adopted son.” Florida attorney Joel Leppard embarked on a media tour Monday, …

ABC News reports: An attorney representing two women who testified before the House Ethics Committee told ABC News in an interview former Rep. Matt Gaetz paid both his adult clients for sex. Florida attorney Joel Leppard told ABC News that one of his clients also witnessed Gaetz having sex with a third woman — who was then 17 years old …

The Birmingham News reports: An Alabama youth pastor is facing sex trafficking charges in Florida after he allegedly sex trafficked a girl in multiple states. Stephen Johnson, 40, whom prosecutors said has volunteered as a youth pastor at an unnamed Birmingham church for more than a decade, met the victim on social media when she was 12 years old and …

Dallas’s Fox affiliate reports: Another North Texas pastor is facing charges for allegedly behaving badly away from the pulpit. Authorities say the Plano pastor was arrested during an ongoing effort by police to fight human trafficking. Plano police arrested 51-year-old Terrence “Terren” Dames, who was the senior pastor at North Dallas Community Bible Fellowship in Plano. Dames is no longer …

From the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation: An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gallatin Police Department has resulted in the indictment of a Bethpage man accused of stealing thousands from the food bank where he worked. In May 2022, at the request of 18th Judicial District Attorney General Ray …

The Hudson Star-Observer reports: On Wednesday, Washington County District Judge Siv Mjanger in Minnesota sentenced Jason James Taylor, formerly a pastor at Calvary Chapel Solid Rock in New Richmond, to serve 45 days in Washington County Jail for his conviction on a single felony count of prostitution involving a teen 16 to 17 years old. Undercover agents posing as minors …

Kalamazoo’s Fox affiliate reports: A former Kalamazoo pastor convicted of sex crimes involving teenage boys learned his sentence Monday. Stricjavvar “Strick” Strickland was sentenced to 12 months behind bars on Monday. The former pastor at Second Baptist Church pleaded guilty to one count last August for knowingly offering to sell transportation services for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. Back …

Youngstown’s CBS affiliate reports: A local pastor received his sentence Monday after being picked up in an undercover sex sting last year. Aaron Newell, 49, of Youngstown, reached a plea deal with prosecutors. According to court records, he will serve no jail time but will be on probation for two years. He was also ordered to perform community service and …

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports: Forty-six men who included a high school football coach, a youth pastor and a director of operations at a hospital were recently arrested during a multi-agency operation targeting the demand for commercial sex in North Texas, a federal agency announced on Friday. The names of the suspects were not released by federal authorities. The joint …

Richmond’s NBC affiliate reports: During a brief press conference on Thursday morning, Chesterfield’s Commonwealth’s Attorney Stacey Davenport said a case involving a Virginia pastor and a child sex crimes sting might move forward after charges were dismissed. John Blanchard was the lead pastor at Rock Church in Virginia Beach. In October 2021, he was one of 17 people arrested in …

Cleveland’s NBC affiliate reports: Seventeen men in Northeast Ohio were arrested and charged as the result of a human trafficking investigation that took place on Dec. 8. An online ad offering sexual favors for money led the men to a Microtel Inn & Suites hotel in Canton, the center of an undercover operation. Reports indicate one of the men, Robert …

The Christian Post reports: The leadership team of Rock Church International cited Romans 3:23 Wednesday as they urged congregants to extend forgiveness to the Rev. John Blanchard following his arrest for solicitation of prostitution last fall. “As followers of Christ, we must remember that redemption, salvation, grace, mercy, and healing are all gifts given to the children of God. Although everyone …

Joplin’s NBC affiliate reports: A former area youth pastor and college instructor is accused of soliciting a 15-year-old girl for sex and paying her $500, according to Arkansas court documents. Daniel Williams Smathers, 44, of 3602 Cherry Lane, Joplin was charged in Benton County, Arkansas Circuit Court with traveling for the purpose of an unlawful sex act with a minor …

Click Houston reports: A chief for Harris County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office was arrested and charged Wednesday after being caught up in an undercover prostitution operation, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said. Chief Deputy Brian Harris was charged with soliciting prostitution, authorities said. He is currently in the Montgomery County Jail. The MCSO Organized Crime Unit, in cooperation with Human Trafficking …