Teen prostitute arrested at Valpo hotel
By Erin Guerra Post-Tribune correspondent September 14, 2012 1:43PM
Updated: October 16, 2012 6:08AM
VALPARAISO — A 16-year-old female from Minnesota who allegedly advertised sexual services through the Internet was arrested this week in an undercover operation at a Valparaiso hotel.
Brian Gensel, the Porter County prosecuting attorney, announced the arrest Friday, recognizing undercover officers of the Porter County Drug Taskforce for participating in the arrest.
Officers arranged for the teen, who offered services in Porter County on an Internet classified ad site, to arrive at about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday to the Marriott Courtyard hotel in Valparaiso. Shortly after she arrived, she allegedly attempted to negotiate for sexual services and was arrested. She is being held at the Porter County Juvenile Detention Center.
Gensel said it is currently unknown where the teen, originally from Duluth, Minn., has been living locally and whether anyone else was involved in the prostitution service. He does believe someone dropped the girl off at the hotel, at 2301 E. Morthland Drive.
In recent years, local police have made prostitution arrests at illegal “massage” parlors. However, “I can’t say that in recent memory, we’ve arrested a juvenile for prostitution,” Gensel said.
Agents will continue to monitor escort service advertisements, he said, and solicitations for prostitution in Porter County will be investigated and prosecuted.
