"Instances of convictions based SOLELY on a review (of both the client and the Escort) exist now as precedent in cases related to that specific "incident".
Man, that is hard to believe. Did the girls just plead out or did those cases actually go to trial? I guess it is Maricopa after all and Arpiao doesnt play around!
I know some clients were convicted for supplying favorable reviews in exchange for reduced rates. The DA equated this as an exchange of sex for "something of value", in this case the valuable review. Other clients were pulled in because they were accused of working in concert with the girls by writing reviews and promoting them online and BCD. I guess LE claimed this blurrred the line between client and pimp/promoter.
It would be interesting to read some of the material from the case versus news hype, I mean "reports".
Originally Posted by Dstorm
As hard as it may be to believe, it is true . . . I won't "out" a provider or a client by naming names (I am after all, in the business of keeping secrets, as a professional choice) . . . you can easily do minor legwork yourself, and matters of public record are matters of public record . . . the names are published and the case histories are online. You can even get them to send you the complete transcripts of a trial electronically for a small fee.
I have a direct connection (through family, by marriage - my aunt's husband - not mine, I relieved myself of my husband long ago) to one of the defendants . . . there have been convictions arising from Desert Divas that have been both plea arrangements and guilty verdicts at several trials. At trial, regardless of the remuneration for the favorable review, convictions were obtained by admission that the writing of the review (which was worded as a "dream") was actually an accounting of an overt act . . that's the kicker . . . a lot of gentlemen writing these reviews will roll right over when offered immunity (or admission of guilt to a lesser charge) and a chance to keep their name out of the paper and affirm the review was a detailed accounting of an act of prostitution, which, of course, results in the conviction of the lady. There were / are at least two instances that went to trial in that county that in which both the client and provider disclaimed the review and were found to have been guilty of conspiracy to commit prostitution by a jury of their peers, regardless of their testimony that the act never took place - the pattern of reviews was enough for the jury to convict. For the most past though, people are people and they take the path of least resistance - they'll roll, you can't blame them . . . but had the review not been written initially, the prosecutor's office would have had no accounting of an act to investigate, no IP record to subpoena and no way to trace the review to the source.
If you followed the KC forums on ASPD or some of the national boards you probably ran into or read a posting by Master Dennis (Handsome Dennis) owner of Plaza Escorts who passed away in November of this last year. He had numerous newsletter entries and postings following that case and others in various jurisdictions . . . Dennis was a strong proponent of no review policies (or stricter guidelines regarding what statements should be used in a review) . . and some would argue for good reason - others would argue Dennis' tin foil hat was too tight . . . but they never got him on RICO, and it was acknowledged (by LE) after his death that his Agency having an NRP was a primary consideration to not attempt the prosecution (well, attempt it again - he beat them once).
Maricopa County isn't the only jurisdiction where a review has been the basis for prosecution - in fact, as I posted in a thread here on eccie.net in the KC forum, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Kansas City, Kansas (KCKPD) will routinely will clip a girl for simply walking into an outcall based SOLELY on reviews as prior bad acts and charge her with intent (conspiracy) to commit prostitution (in some instances conspiracy carries a heftier weight turning a simple misdemeanor into a felony). This has occurred even in instances when the lady has never even spoken to the "client" LEO - it was an outcall screened and arranged by a call taker and passed as an Agency booking. Rules of evidence in their county allow questions about prior bad acts of a witness to impeach credibility where, in the court's discretion, they are probative of truthfulness (in this case, a review). Of course, the lady will disclaim the review, however, if the lady denies the act, it may be proved by other evidence (a different review) - as the act to be proved has some relevance to the case that is independent of its bearing on credibility. There is "at trial" precedence, subsequently upheld (affirmed) on appeal of prosecutors successfully doing just that . . . obtaining (winning) a guilty verdict based SOLELY on a review (or patterned series of reviews).
Reviews are a double edged sword for everyone involved . . . and perhaps a necessary evil, but one that a professional can limit and manage her risk by tightly controlling or limiting their number. We all assume a bit of exposure in this endeavor . . . to think otherwise is folly and you should get out now if you feel immune (I'm not directing that comment at you Dstorm, I am just making an observation).
Stay safe!
Kisses,
- Jackie