Published: August 26, 2008 10:46 pm      

Police: Internet ad leads to arrest in prostitution sting

Beckley police say a woman who placed an “erotic services” ad on Craigslist and offered to perform paid sex acts for an undercover police officer was among three arrested in a recent prostitution sting.

Candace Brown, 32, of Saunders Avenue, Beckley, was charged with solicitation of prostitution, Capt. Jeff Shumate said. Because of a previous and similar conviction found in another state, Beckley police are in the process of upgrading the charge.

Shumate said police had received a complaint about an ad on the Craigslist Web site several days ago. According to information from the site, Craigslist offers local classifieds and forums for more than 500 cities in more than 50 countries. Police found an ad from a Beckley woman offering “erotic services.” Her cell phone number and photo — with her head apparently turned — were posted with the ad.

An undercover police officer called the woman, now identified by police as Brown, and they arranged to meet at a local hotel, Shumate said. On the phone, Brown said she was offering sex-related services.

She met a second undercover officer at the hotel room Thursday, where she offered to perform sex acts for money.

Brown was then arrested, Shumate said.

“With the development of technology and the Internet, you can expect the criminal element to use that to help them commit crimes,” he said.

However, it was only one part of a two-day operation designed to combat prostitution, Shumate said.

Last Thursday and Friday, police set up a female decoy on Second Street, Shumate said. The decoy simply waited for someone else to come to her. If someone offered money for sexual favors, arrests were made.

Two men were taken into custody, Shumate said. Steven Lee Workman, 35, of Eccles, and Timothy Wayne Lilly, 24, of Ridge Street, Mabscott, were both charged with solicitation of prostitution. Both were given Beckley Municipal Court citations and released.

Shumate noted police handled a prostitution sting in 2006. Thirty-seven men were arrested. Police said their goal was to cut down on the problem by lowering the demand, then the supply.

Because the number of arrests late last week were markedly lower, Shumate said he believes the goal was accomplished.

“We arrested about five a day during the last sting,” he said. “We feel like these operations are a deterrent to these types of crimes. When the demand goes down, so does the supply. Both prostitutes and johns have to be in place.”

— E-mail: apridemore@register-herald.com