KENNEBUNK, Maine — Over two holiday-shortened weeks, Kennebunk police charged another four more men with paying for sex at an alleged prostitution business in the town, bringing the total number of alleged johns in the scandalous case to 62.
Today’s announcement was the fourth biweekly installment in the incremental release of alleged johns’ names in this high profile case, which has garnered global media attention. The previous three releases identified a total of 54 men accused of being clients of Alexis Wright, who police believe ran a prostitution business out of her Kennebunk fitness studio alongside Thomaston businessman Mark Strong.
Both Wright and Strong have pleaded not guilty to a slate of charges stemming from the alleged operation.
The latest four men to be charged in the case are:
Daniel A. Meyer, 41, of Raymond; David F. Burley, 47, of Biddeford; Christopher Cutshall, 52, of Portland; and Roger C. Larson, 58, of Harrison.
Another four men preemptively pleaded guilty to the charge of engaging a prostitute and did not appear in the biweekly list of summonses, bringing the number of alleged johns before Monday up to 58.
Lt. Anthony Bean Burpee of the Kennebunk Police Department said only four men were charged over the past two weeks in the case because of holiday-shortened weeks. Between 15 and 21 men were charged during the previous biweekly intervals.
“Since the last release of the Kennebunk Police Department’s biweekly blotter on Nov. 9, 2012, there have been two shortened weeks due to Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, which makes it difficult for investigators to schedule interviews with alleged suspects,” Bean Burpee said in a statement. “Additionally, investigators have been busy the past two weeks preparing information for attorney requested discovery material in order to meet court-imposed deadlines. Preparation of paperwork and investigations are two very time-consuming tasks. The investigation into the police department’s ongoing cases continues, and criminal summonses will be issued as individual cases are processed.”
Investigators have said Wright kept meticulous records, including a client list with more than 150 names on it. At the current rate, the incremental release of alleged clients could drag on another two months.
Thus far, the list of men previously charged includes former South Portland Mayor James Soule, former Kennebunk High School hockey coach Donald Hill, local lawyer Jens Bergens, former Portland Planning Board Chairman Joe Lewis and former Church of the Nazarene Pastor James Andrew Ferreira.
Kennebunk police are including the names of men charged with engaging a prostitute in their biweekly blotter, which was regularly scheduled to be released on Friday. But because of the holiday week, the release was postponed until Monday afternoon.
Kennebunk Lt. Anthony Bean Burpee has said investigators are combing through massive amounts of evidence in the case, including videos Wright is alleged to have made of her encounters with clients, and they are issuing summonses to accused johns as they collect enough evidence to do so.
With the (new Maine morality) why are we bothering to prosecute?. Where is the freedoms and rights crowd now?
Exactly….do whatever you want. Roll it, smoke it, grow it, sell it, buy it,
screw it, eat it,………..no more rules. Sheeesh.
Like solicitation of a prostitute, many of the things you allude to are misdemeanors for which people are indeed routinely charged and fined. The rules governing this have been in place for decades. Sheesh indeed.
that”s intelligent!!
Prostitution is less politically correct perhaps? It does seem to be a big fuss about nothing in this case.
The problem I’ve always had with prostitution as an industry, and the main reason why I’ve never been able to work my way around to supporting its decriminalization, is that a lot of the participants aren’t in it voluntarily. For the ones that are, great, more power to them – like George Carlin said, why should it be illegal to sell something that it’s perfectly legal to give away? – but unless there were some way of ensuring that the ones who are selling it are doing so because they really want to, I can’t get behind it. One hears too many stories of brutal pimps and urban slavery.
On the other hand, if the industry were legal and regulated there might be less of that, but I’m not sure the experiment would be worth the risk. It’s a little bit like the death penalty in that respect – it sounds great to me in theory, but unless we could be guaranteed that we, as a society, would always get it right, it’s not worth the consequences of getting it wrong, and of course we can’t be guaranteed of that, so… (shrug)
It’s going to happen one way or the other. That’s clear. So why not take steps to make it safer for the prostitute and the Johns? The black market in women and drugs is stronger because it’s illegal, not weaker. Leaving things to the shadows allows the true scum to operate easier. Better to shine a light on the whole operation.
The reductions in spending for enforcement, prosecution and incarceration could be diverted to regulation, and taxation would be a source of much needed income. Just because we don’t approve of a profession, does not mean it should be exempt from taxation.
I don’t think there is much of a risk of failure, given that our current solutions aren’t successful anyway. Either way, it would probably always be a catch 22.
That’s not a very convincing argument on its face, though, is it? I mean, murder and arson are going to happen one way or the other too, but nobody suggests legalizing those so the government can regulate them.
Well, sort of. I mean with prostitution you have a deal being struck between two people, to which both parties agree. With murder, I am reasonably sure that the victim didn’t agree to the deal, Same with arson, pretty sure the insurance company didn’t agree.
Well, if we ask ourselves if our current approach is working I think we would have to say no. Banning things most often only strengthens the criminals. The same approach might help with legalizing recreational cannabis. Eliminate the pimps and drug dealers financially. Tax both heavily and do something worthwhile with the money. Throw the money we would save on prisons, trials, and police work into the pot with it. (Would the lawyers, prison builders, police and guard unions oppose it?)
It comes back to whether or not the “crime” is victimless or not. Consensual sex between 2 adults can’t be compared to murder or arson.
Well, there’s the rub (as it were): a lot of prostitution-based sex isn’t consensual. I think we’ve come back around in a circle at this point.
Which strict regulations could help with. Those that force women, and even more repulsively, children – to have sex with others, should be prosecuted far more harshly than they even are today. Human trafficking should be a capital offense in my opinion.
It’s very important distinctions are made and tiers of offenses established. Huge difference obviously between a true consensual transaction between participators and a transaction that involves a non-consensual partner.
A huge difference indeed, but one I doubt legislation is well-suited to address in practice.
Would they be perfect solutions? Of course not. All laws in place are still broken. Laws that aim to keep drugs, alcohol, tobacco, etc. out of minors hands are only so effective.
It’s simply about trying to make the best of a complex issue, both for those involved and for the collective.
Ask their wives and children if this is a victimless crime
No moreso than average run of the mill adultery.
Marriages are ruined every day for a myriad of reasons. Cheating is usually a symptom of many problems – scapegoating prostitution for the dysfunction of marriages is just that – a scapegoat. The underlying issues will still be there whether prostitution is legal or not.
Ah, but is the infidelity itself or is it the legal system and press victimizing the families? If it were legal and regulated and private then would they be less victimized?
Thousands of years of history argue that we can’t stop it, We should change our approach.
why is it treated differently than when the guy commits adultery with a woman he doesn’t pay—it would have the same effect on the wives and children would it not? Yet the state of Maine legalized adultery decades ago.
The strongest arguement for keeping prostitution illegal is that many woman are forced to engage in it against their will—although punishing them seems to be punishing the victim. Anyway I suspect that if Ms. Wright did engage in prostitution it was of her own volition.
Ya they just voted in the gays to marry. If the girls can make a living go for it.
anyone can start collecting signatures for a citizens referendum to have the prostitution law repealed … that’s how the marriage initiative won … good luck …
People are all over any news article that has something to do with same sex unions and yet you read this story (each week mind you) and nothing from the religious folks? No ranting and raving and scripture for this ongoing story?? Please – it is people like this woman that spread disease and chaos wherever they go because of prostitution. Yet all of you are up in arms over gay civil unions and you are all for legalizing prostitution – please…
I have yet to hear a report that she has any diseases, though this of course gets thrown out there all the time. Where’s your proof? As for chaos, the media is creating most of it.
I didn’t mean her in particular – just generalizing. Maybe I shouldn’t be but I was trying to get a point across to those fanatics.
As far as I know, no information has been released pertaining to any STD’s that may have been spread due to her extra-zumba activities at her studio, but if you look at nationwide STD statistics, it’s very sobering. According to info I found online, approximately 2% of Mainers have a STD and I think it’s safe to assume that the sort of person who would have sex with a prostitute would also have a much higher incidence than average of STD’s. Since she apparently had sex with at least 150 of these higher risk people, the odds are extremely high that at least a few of them had an STD that she was at least exposed to and possibly carries.
I have no sympathy for either the prostitute or the johns as far as any embarrassment they may be currently enduring due to this ongoing story. They all knew what they were doing and that it was illegal and that all those charged with any criminal act get their names in the paper, so they should have anticipated that this would eventually happen. The people I feel sorry for are the spouses of the johns who are discovering that their husbands have been unfaithful and in the process have possibly exposed them to the same STD risk as someone with 150 random sex partners, yuck!
There’s no way to know for sure, though logic dictates that sex of the non-paid for variety encompasses the majority of std proliferation. Promiscuity and lack of protection are a recipe for “yuck” whether dollars are exchanged or not.
Of course your first sentence is true, but ONLY because the vast, vast majority of sex is of the non-paid for variety so it logically follows that most std proliferation happens during the most common (non-paid) sex. But if someone is the type person to pay a prostitute, chances are good they’re also generally more promiscuous than most people are and so have more STD risk as do all those they are intimate with.
I do agree that the exchange of dollars isn’t a key ingredient in the “yuck” factor, especially compared with the number of sex partners involved. But I also don’t consider the use or non-use of “protection” to be much of a factor either because if I knew someone had an active STD I wouldn’t trust “protection” to keep me from becoming infected. The ONLY real protection from STD’s is a long term, monogamous relationship with someone you trust.
But if someone is the type person to pay a prostitute, chances are good they’re also generally more promiscuous than most people are and so have more STD risk as do all those they are intimate with.
I wouldn’t work with that as a good assumption. The most promiscuous people I know have never paid a dime for sex. That easy gal or guy trolling at the bar is more likely to be a hotbed for goodies than the average call girl.
All I’m trying to get at is that the true crime isn’t in the exchange of dollars, but in the deception and betrayal, and even moreso if a “present” is given as part of the deception and betrayal.
Alas … prostitution is not just between consenting males and females. New Maine morality now is between males and males / females and females. Oh the money the State could make on taxation …. where are our Democrates!!!
You actually believe homosexual behavior is a new phenomena?
.
Thanks for the laugh.
You believe that’s something new?..You really don’t think that has been going on longer than you have lived?
4? Ahahahaha!
What, someone doesn’t like the truth? BDN has been hyping the next list coming out after the holiday, etc and now it’s 4 names. That is a hoot!
I wonder if she is still filming…
We’ll have to see what else “develops,” but I can tell you this: she may have all kinds of Johns, but she won’t get any Oscars.
This is a crock. What is prostitution? It is taking a gal out on an expensive date, with the objective of having sex at the end, then eliminating the third party services and just handing her the money. There are gals who routinely exchange sex for fancy meals — be honest and charge them and the guys… or put an end to wasting taxpayer money prosecuting sex when there are dangerous drugs on the streets.
Dang, and I thought I was cynical about interpersonal relationships. That view of dating has as much poetry in it as guns for hostages.
I never paid for it but bought many .
Bill has a way with words, but he does have a point.
I’ve been to many a romantic film and eaten many an over-priced meal for reasons other than the film or the meal.
Dating doesn’t mean all that much relationship wise these days. The process is similar, just not as guaranteed nor as crass. I’ve just always pocketed receipts from the theater and the restaurant, not my date.
Marriage or other long term relationships are another thing altogether IMHO.
And those same girls who on a first date that had sex, would probably have had sex regardless of the expensive meal…so you wasted your time and your money!
I think it’s safe to assume you are single.
Ah, but you’re missing the point…remember that Ms. Wright was indicted for not only prostitution but also for tax evasion. If the State can prove that she was ‘in the oldest profession’ and didn’t pay her income tax, they’ve gotten what they really wanted. If you remember, the Feds nailed Al Capone not for illegal hooch or the prostitution rackets that he was involved in, but rather for income tax evasion.
NASCAR babes
just 4 names ? Just who is getting off here .
*rimshot!*
Try the fish, we’re here all week. :)
Nobody.
They’ve closed her down.
Haha, Yowsa….made me laugh.
Everyone! :)
This whole country is going down the tubes…
Why are we still reading about this? Please stop, BDN.
What the Sam Hill is wrong with you men down in southern Maine?, you have to pay for it. Just come up to Central and Northern Maine,the females are giving it away up here for free. So what they weight 300 pounds at least you dont get a police record.
I dunno skowtown, I can get by your heft, it’s your politics that would cause me to search beyond….free or no…..
AND, as a bonus for the upcoming Midweek Quickie, ya get the 300lb gal, PLUS a double-wide PLUS her three kids and a barking dog all for just $49.95. C’mon up!
“..investigators are combing through massive amounts of evidence in the case, including videos…”
Watching porn is a tough job, but someone has to do it.
Some of her videos have some pretty whacky stuff.The urinating in the mouth one probably takes the cake.
Doesn’t work for me, but to each their own, I guess.
All those long hours must be hard on their spouses….
“I’ve got to work three overtime shifts this week, hon. Don’t wait up.”
Gee, I’m glad to hear there are no serious criminal cases pending, no cold cases, no unsolved murders or robberies. so investigators can devote themselves full-time to this horrendous and unspeakable crime,
Now we’re down to 4 names/bi-weekly. Let’s drag this out and milk it for all it’s worth.
Yup.
Four? Is this the end of the list? Must be, wouldn’t be fair to release the names of four working guys and leave out anybody who knows a Senator or Governor or Mayor or Ben Franklin, right?
How come the other four that have plead guilty are not named? Or maybe someone could give an explanation that I have missed.
They were…you missed it…type in Portalnd Press Herald or Kennebunk prostitution and you will find it.
They have only published 58 names. 54+4 today. The total count so far is 62. So who are the 4 that have already plead guilty and not been named? There are 4 names that are not being published.
The 4 that turned themselves in before being formally charged…they were in the paper = 62
AND HETEROSEXUALS DO NO WRONG. THEY’RE ALL LOVING CHRISTIANS WHO ‘LOVE’ ONE ANOTHER AND ANOTHER AND ANOTHER. STRONG MORALS…
Strong morals adjustable with the situation.
Who are the four that have already plead guilty?
http://www.heavy.com/news/2012/11/4-new-johns-plead-guilty-in-zumba-whorehouse-scandal/ Here they are
Why is it that if you are accused your names published but if you are guilty and pay the fine it is not. The state is making money on this for sure.
waste of tax dollars.
Big deal…………Yaaawn. Isn’t there a cool Black Friday incident to report somewhere?
WOW, 58 Johns so far. Wonder how the STDS are doing in the Portland area now?
We have not heard anything along that angle yet. HIPAA protections probably.
For the record: I am not on the public list nor am I on the list of those yet-to-be-charged.
For purposes of disease transmission followup, I want to point out that when you have sex with a person, you are for all intents and purposes, having sex with every person your partner had sex with. Somebody should put all these guys into a room so they can get a good look at each other. If the first “john” had HIV or any other STD, then every single one of the rest is now at risk. This is a hundred or more guys who shared body fluids with each other. The woman was an intermediary.
Eeeeeeewwwww.
“Another four men preemptively pleaded guilty to the charge of engaging a prostitute and did not appear in the biweekly list of summonses, bringing the number of alleged johns before Monday up to 58″.
Who are the four metioned above?
First paragragh of article says ” Over two holiday-shortened weeks, Kennebunk police charged another four more men with paying for sex at an alleged prostitution business in the town, bringing the total number of alleged johns in the scandalous case to 62″.
You can’t pay a girl for sex through solicitation, unless you record it dummies, then its porn. Duh.
We want the names of the white collar Johns.. It’s amazing the police and the DA’s office are hiding their friends names in this case.
Prostitution is sin! All sin destroys lives!