Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 18, 1995 TAG: 9507180077
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The fines, imposed in Roanoke General District Court as a result of the latest round of prostitution arrests in the city, were higher than first-time offenders normally are ordered to pay.
In fact, the men wound up paying twice as much in fines as did the female prostitutes who were arrested as part of the same street sweep by police.
Judges generally are reluctant to send first-time prostitution customers to jail, so a heavy fine is the best way to get their attention, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Dennis Nagel said.
"This is the only crime that people are committing because they have too much money in their pocket, as opposed to people who are stealing for food," Nagel said. "So we're making an extra effort to hit them in the pocketbook."
The men also received 30-day suspended jail sentences, which could be imposed if they don't pay their fines.
Nine women and 16 men were arrested in April after police conducted a two-phase sting operation that targeted the prostitutes who loiter on sidewalks and the steady stream of men who drive by to seek their services.
The operation centered on the 600 to 900 blocks of Salem Avenue Southwest, and Campbell Avenue Southeast from the viaduct to Eighth Street.
After first using male undercover detectives posing as customers to "clear the streets" of prostitutes, Nagel said, police then sent an undercover female to pose as a prostitute and arrest customers.
Most of the people charged in the sting were first-time offenders. Most pleaded guilty Monday, while a few asked that lawyers be appointed to represent them.
Roanoke police routinely conduct crackdowns on prostitution, sometimes after complaints by merchants in the City Market area.
by CNB