Detroit Sex Party Busted. Johns Ticketed, Cars Impounded, Mother and Party Hosts Arrested. Troy Police SIU Policy Contrasted.

HERE WE GO AGAIN

It is the latest stark example of how Troy Police Department's putative enforcement method of the Michigan Prostitution statutes: arresting only the alleged prostitute(s) and letting the alleged Johns walk "scot-free" compares to neighboring law enforcement. Even in the often maligned (usually unfairly) City of Detroit, johns and panderers are investigated, arrested, charged and otherwise held accountable for their actions within the city limits. Troy's stated policy is not the policy of neighboring jurisdictions in Michigan. Recently, the Wayne County Sheriff Department SIU, under the leadership of Sheriff Evans, conducted a sting operation against a home and its occupants in Southwest Detroit, Michigan on December 7, 2008. Undercover officers infiltrated the activity - obtained a search warrant (not relying on far flung case law and poorly understood "exceptions" to the 4th Amendment requirement) and effectuated their arrests against the entire operation.

As reported by the Detroit News:
Sheriff: Detroit mom hosted sex party using underage girls
George Hunter / The Detroit News
"DETROIT -- A 39-year-old woman was arrested early this morning after allegedly hosting a sex party that involved two 16-year-old girls -- one of whom was the woman's daughter -- and 19 prostitutes. The woman charged $15 cover charge for the party in her home on Cherrylawn near Curtis on Detroit's west side, Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans said. ***
Evans said officers who executed the search warrant were surprised to find out the mother of one of the underage girls was hosting the party. *** When officers raided the home, they found the two underage girls dancing partially nude. There were about 20 adult men inside the home; in addition to the $15 cover charge, they paid whatever each prostitute charged for sex, Evans said. It is not clear whether either of the underage girls were offering sex for money. 'It's pretty safe to assume that it would have lead to (prostitution) eventually in that environment," Evans said. "Thankfully, we were able to shut this party down before things got that far.' Most of the prostitutes and johns were ticketed and released, but the girl's mother was arrested, as were three men who were involved in operating the party, Evans said. All face charges of Operating a House of Illegal Occupation, but the mother likely will face additional charges. *** Police also confiscated three handguns and marijuana, ecstasy pills and heroin, along with several hundred dollars in cash. The money is believed to be proceeds from the party. Approximately 10 vehicles also were impounded." You can reach George Hunter at (313) 222-2134 or ghunter@detnews.com.

Of course, many critics have argued that Troy SIU would never have allowed a "little person" to walk away after confessing to their crime as they did Thomas Athans on February 26, 2008, however, it should be noted that Troy SIU conducted a similar raid to their February 26, 2008, operation in May 2008, and in that instance released the johns "scot free" and arrested and charged the two alleged prostitutes.

In a bizarre, shameful and inappropriate twist, the police proudly displayed tables to the television media festooned with condoms and lubricants, reminiscent of displays when a large drug cache seizure had taken place. Mothers throughout the broadcast area of the local network (WDIV) were left to explain to their small children the meaning of the artistically arranged sex items, displayed as if merchandised for sale. The poor judgment of this action was reinforced by the poor judgment of the television media, which broadcast the ill conceived public relations fiasco.

The Wayne County Sheriff Department should be congratulated on their raid. This operation was a job well done. Responsible law enforcement was conducted in a logical, reasonable and efficient manner. Next the judicial system will sort things out for the well being of these prostituted women, proceed in the forfeiture of the automobiles involved, deal with, punish and educate the johns, and look after the underage 16 year old daughter, rather then officers at the scene dispensing "street justice" and letting the johns go "scot free" in their cars and home to their families.

Warren Police Department Takes Lead in Law Enforcement for Region - October 16, 2008 Sting: Alleged Pimp, Johns and Prostitutes Arrested and Charged

September 8, 2009 UPDATE
Defendant Miguel Elizondo is scheduled for sentencing on October 7, 2009. Click here for link to Docket Calendar 2009-001825-FH PEOPLE vs. ELIZONDO, MIGUEL A, Hon. Peter J. Maceroni presiding.

Earlier this year, the City of Warren which neighbors Troy, Michigan, took steps to enforce the statutes of Michigan relative to prostitution in their community. After personally viewing the situation with patrolling police officers, Mayor Jim Fouts concluded - as have most reasonable observers - the myth that prostitution is a "victimless crime" is a dangerous misconception for a normal, socially conscientious and healthy community.

Unlike the City of Troy Police Department's seriously flawed handling of the Thomas Athans/Alycia Martin case, and the "special" handling of the Elliott Spitzer/Ashley Dupre case in New York (with contacts taking place in Washington, D.C.) Mayor Jim Fouts and the Warren Police undercover officers took on the entire operation in their sting, not just the targetting the vulnerable woman being prostituted, as in the Alycia Martin case. It should be noted that most critics of the Troy Police Department's handling of the Martin case agree: if the women are doing illegal activities, then they should be prosecuted, but to release the johns "scot-free" is morally wrong and sends the wrong message. Law enforcement must enforce all the laws against violators irrespective of wealth, social standing, or political influence. If the failure to charge Thomas Athans and release him to drive on a suspended license is perceived as wrong and a "double standard," then failure to vigorously and actively pursue the pimp and handlers is reprehensible, outrageous and shameful.

It is posited by the Troy Police Department that the physical arrest, and filing of charges against the prostituted 20 year old girl; hitting her with forfeiture proceeding (taking all her money); and publicizing her identity, while not arresting or ticketing the alleged john, is somehow going to magically force or encourage the cooperation and testimony by young girl against the pimp handler. In this so called police methodology, the admitted john is joked with and befriended, told not to worry, and treated deferentially. The prostituted woman is searched, arrested, processed, charged, and prosecuted. When examined objectively, this pretext is shamefully false, especially in light of a neighboring jurisdiction's commitment to traditional enforcement techniques.

Dilligent police work seems to work successfully in Warren, Michigan, yet is "impossibly difficult" in neighboring Troy. Special Investigations Division's efforts in the Warren Police Department resulted in the following arrests, hardly a failure by any standards:

(Excerpted from Warren Police Department Web Site)
"Warren Mayor Jim Fouts is publishing the names of individuals arrested for such crimes on the city’s Web site and in the future, on TV Warren cable channels. October 17, 2008, Commissioner William Dwyer announces that in a continuing effort to stop prostitution within the city of Warren, officers of the Warren Police Special Investigation Division arrested nine subjects. This sting operation occurred on October 16, 2008 at a local hotel in the city of Warren. The females arrested in this incident all reside in the tri-county area and charged anywhere from $150-$250 an hour for their services.As a result of this operation the following individuals were arrested and warrant requests were presented to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office. After reviewing the files, the Macomb County Prosecutor’s authorized the following:

ROBERTA ANTIONETTE LOBERT, a 34-year-old Sterling Heights resident, was arraigned on a two-count misdemeanor warrant charging her with: Count 1: Prostitution, 93-day misdemeanor, and Count 2: Use of the Internet in commission of a crime, one-year misdemeanor.

KATRINA LYNN SAHABI, a 21-year-old West Bloomfield resident, was arraigned on a two-count misdemeanor warrant charging her with:Count 1: Prostitution, 93-day misdemeanor, and Count 2: Use of the Internet in commission of a crime, one-year misdemeanor.

CELESTE MARIE VALASTEK, a 27-year-old Memphis resident, was arraigned on a three-count misdemeanor warrant charging her with:Count 1: Prostitution, 93-day misdemeanor,Count 2: Conspiracy to commit Prostitution, 93-day misdemeanor, andCount 3: Use of the Internet in commission of a crime, one-year misdemeanor.

MARIE ALLEN THOMPSON, a 25-year-old White Lake resident, was arraigned on a three-count misdemeanor warrant charging her with:Count 1: Prostitution, 93-day misdemeanor,Count 2: Conspiracy to commit Prostitution, 93-day misdemeanor, and Count 3: Use of the Internet in commission of a crime, one-year misdemeanor.

SHANNON NICOLE HENDERSON, a 29-year-old Detroit resident, was arraigned on a three-count misdemeanor warrant charging her with:Count 1: Prostitution, a 93-day misdemeanor,Count 2: Use of the Internet in commission of a crime, one-year misdemeanor and Count 3: Driving on a Suspended License, a one-year misdemeanor.

WENDELL POLK, a 36-year-old Detroit resident, was arraigned on a four-count misdemeanor warrant charging him with:Count 1: Prostitution, 93-day misdemeanor,Count 2: Conspiracy to commit Prostitution, one-year misdemeanor,Count 3: Possession of Marijuana, one-year misdemeanor, and Count 4: Operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license, 93-day misdemeanor

MICHAEL DWAYNE EDMONDS, a 47-year-old Southgate resident, was arraigned on a two-count misdemeanor warrant charging him with:Count 1: Prostitution, 93 day misdemeanor, and Count 2: Conspiracy to commit Prostitution, one-year misdemeanor.

MIGUEL ANTONIO ELIZONDO, a 43-year-old Southgate resident, was arraigned on a three-count warrant charging him with:Count 1: Accepting earnings from Prostitution, a twenty-year felony,Count 2: Prostitution, 93-day misdemeanor, and Count 3: Conspiracy to commit Prostitution, one-year misdemeanor.
*****
Officers also seized five vehicles pending forfeiture proceedings, along with $696.00 in cash, several cell phones, a laptop computer and a digital camera.Commissioner William Dwyer states, “This type of criminal activity will not be accepted nor tolerated in the city of Warren. The Warren Police Department is committed to the investigation and prosecution of any individuals who participate in this criminal enterprise.” http://www.cityofwarren.org/default.asp?area_2=police/prostitution.dat&area_7=nav/police.dat&area_5=police/right.dat&objectid=C27B0E0&ml_index=13&NC=3466X
Case in point: The Warren Police managed to arrest all participants and charged an alleged panderer with the 20 year felony.

This operation is true law enforcement of the statutes, and the City of Warren and it's Police Department should be commended for a job well done as leaders for the region as they "strive" to address the issue in their community.

Sadly, one the alleged prostitutes arrested in this sting operation has passed away. It is the point and argument of this blog that prostituted women caught up in this industry should be helped, not punished, and treated with compassion and dignity. Accordingly, at the request of her family and friends, her photograph and references to her have been removed from this blog. Law enforcement should focus their resources on the predators of these young women, the "johns" and the "sex industrialists." Her loss is a loss to every responsible and conscientious citizen.

Where police and responsible members of the citizenry neglect or fail to act, prostituted women are victims, drained of life and hope. One can hardly imagine that a woman would "choose" this life. The only choice usually is to choose to live and not be homeless, hungry, and alone. Likewise, Johns, if forced to face the consequence of their actions, educated, and their activities publicized would not continue their use of other human beings for their selfish needs and gratification. Investigation, arrest and prosecution the predatory pimps, handlers, bottoms and security members of the ring would, as believed by most reasonable observers, comprehensively address this criminal activity. Arresting only the prostituted woman hardly seems to scratch the surface. Both the demand end (the john/user) and the supply distribution end (the pimp) are left untouched. It is disgraceful where only the prostituted person (the product) it targeted for arrest and prosecution.

All jurisdictions in Southeastern Michigan should follow the lead set by the City of Warren Police Department.