Prostitution stings have become a common event for the Allen County Sheriff's Office. A sting conducted on Friday resulted in a familiar face being arrested. The sheriff's office is working with the Lima Police Department and the FBI to curb the problem of prostitution in the area. Among those arrested in the sting, former Ottawa Mayor Kenneth Maag. Maag stepped down as mayor following a 2011 arrest during a prostitution sting. He has been charged with soliciting a prostitute.
While technology is making things easier for prostitutes, it's making things more difficult for law enforcement. Instead of standing out on the corner and flagging down "Johns," Sheriff Crish said, they are posting online and "Johns" are responding from home, from the office, and via cell phone.
While prostitution may seem like a small area of crime to target, prostitution brings in drugs, and drugs result in additional crimes. Sheriff Crish says prostitution has become a problem in the area, with truck stops and hotels being used as meeting places. He also adds that stings are being conducted multiple times a week, with three to four arrests per sting.
