Some arrestees were offering drugs in exchange for sex on the
Craigslist.com Web site
Morgan Hill – During a prostitution sting Friday, Morgan Hill police officers arrested three people, including a man who told officers he needed to be released by a specific time to keep a dinner reservation with his wife to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
Jean-Pierre de Tourtoulon, 29, of Scotts Valley, was cited and released for allegedly soliciting prostitution, according to Morgan Hill police Sgt. David Swing.
Tourtoulon was arrested at a Morgan Hill hotel after officers noticed significant activity on the Craigslist.com Web site. Police are not releasing the name of the hotel where the arrests were made, but Swing commented that hotel management was cooperative.
As part of the sting officers began to correspond with possible clients, some of them offering drugs in exchange for sex.
“One of the problems with prostitution is the criminal element it brings with it,” said Morgan Hill police officer David Ray, who coordinated the sting. “Both prostitutes and Johns (customers) expose themselves to risks of being robbed, assaulted, raped and contracting sexually-transmitted diseases.”
Officers responded to a craigslist advertisement in July and arrested a Morgan Hill woman for propositioning an undercover officer.
“From the success of that operation, officer David Ray decided to make a more concerted effort to arrest people involved in prostitution-related behavior,” Swing said.
Lesle Rucker, 29, of Stockton, was booked into Santa Clara County Jail on charges of alleged prostitution and a parole violation. She was on parole for identity theft.
Tommy Martinez, 51, of San Jose, was cited and released for alleged solicitation of prostitution.
“Some may ask, why is the police department focusing on this type of crime when there are other issues in the community,” Swing said. “The goal of our efforts is to get the word out on the street that Morgan Hill is not a friendly environment for this or any other type of criminal behavior. We hope that both those who advertise for and respond to ads for sexual services recognize this and choose to take their actions elsewhere.”
Swing said though there are at least two other places in Morgan Hill where sexual services are offered that officers are aware of, another sting will not be coordinated right away.
“We will continue to monitor craigslist, as well as other sources of prostitution,” he said. “There are a couple of other sources we are looking at. But we’ll let things cool down some. Right now, they’re likely to be squirreled away, more hesitant about customers, less apt to take new clients.”
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@*************es.com.
