|
Dear Jon: Okay, what are the police up to now? I think everyone that lives, works or plays in Boyztown should know about the latest police harassment! Beware! Two weeks ago, I went into Cocktail for a drink with a friend. I left around 9:30 pm and walked the ten feet to my car which was parked at a meter right on Roscoe at Halsted. My friend walked me out and while we stood at my car talking, a really cute guy pulled up in a car and began to hit on me. He then asked if I wanted to hook up and when I said "sure," he asked me how much. I wasn't sure I even heard him correctly because it was such a weird question but I told him I was just looking for a hook-up, but not money. At that very moment, a bunch of cops appeared from nowhere and arrested meand my friend for prostitution! When I got to the police station, they put me in a cell. There were about 25 other guys in the cell, all charged with prostitution and all set up by the same hot guy! About 12 of the guys were college educated professionals like me. They were clearly not prostitutes and as I soon discovered, had not done anything at all but respond to the advances of a hot guy in a car. Due to the nature of my employment, I have been placed on administrative leave because of this arrest. I am furious, astounded and confused. Why do the police around here do this kind of thing? Can they get away with this crap? What should I do? --No Ho Dear NoHo: You are right that everyone should be aware of what is going on. This is exactly the kind of cheap, politically motivated harassment that causes animosity, distrust and resentment toward the police. Our law firm
has received a flurry of inquiries about this latest sting.
And the short answer to your question is that you need to get
a good criminal defense attorney right away. The bad news is that when law abiding citizens get caught in these nets, they very often plead guilty to avoid further embarrassment. I urge you to accept no deals. On at least June 5, 2006, the 23rd Police District used an officer acting in a "decoy capacity" and while driving a CPD covert vehicle engaged men in conversation along the main drag of Halsted. The undercover officer then gave an arrest signal to surveillance officers who moved in for the arrest. Many of those arrested on June 5th were professionals like you. Prostitution is punishable up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. To sustain a conviction, the prosecution does not have to prove that money was exchanged, nor does the cop have to tell you he is a cop if you ask him. There need only be an agreement to perform a sex act in exchange for something of value. For example, I once represented a women charged with prostitution that agreed to a give a blow job for a can of Old Style (which is really just a cheap date if you ask me). I don't know the exact motivation for this kind of police behavior. There is truly enough crime out there and certainly no need for cops to create it. And there is never an explanation for a cop falsifying charges and lying on reports, but it happens. You should be angry and you should be astounded, but you shouldn't be confused. It is very clear that you need to fight and defeat these charges. And then you need to avail yourself of the civil remedies that Congress created for this very type of situation. Best of luck and I'll see you in court on Wednesday. --Jon |