Prostitution found in Columbia
Five Columbia residents were arrested Thursday on counts of prostitution. Officers began investigating claims of prostitution after citizens complained about ads found in a local newspaper and on an Internet site offering sexual acts for money.
Nine officers and detectives with the Columbia Police Department led an investigation after ads found in local Columbia newspapers and on internet site, Craigslist.com, uncovered local prostitution, stated a news release from the department.
“Officers have been utilizing ads used in local newspapers to contact subjects involved in what is essentially prostitution,” CPD Sgt. Brian Richenberger said.
Columbia officials answered advertisements that clearly stated “sex for sale,” stated the news release. Arrangements were then put in place for the officers to meet the suspects at a local motel.
Arrests were made after the investigators established the subjects were exchanging sexual acts for money. In addition to the five charges of prostitution, one suspect was also charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, since she had brought her children, ages two and four, to the meeting site, stated the news release.
Columbia officials conducted a prostitution sting similar to this in May 2008.
“There are certainly more ads of this nature that we found, but we weren’t able to contact those individuals,” Richenberger said. “After viewing those ads and interviewing the arrested subjects, there’s indication that there’s additional prostitution occurring in Columbia.”
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