ZOOMA ZOOM Update; Kennebunk (ME) Prostitution Case

3-28-13
On March 6, Strong was found guilty on all 12 counts of promotion of prostitution and one count of conspiracy to promote prostitution.

Defense attorneys in the Strong case filed a motion seeking arrest of judgment in the case, urging Superior Court Justice Nancy Mills to reverse the conviction on the grounds that the charges against him were too vague to defend against. Mills denied that motion.

Superior Court Justice Nancy Mills sentenced Mark Strong Sr. to 20 days in jail and a total of $3,000 in fines for his role in an alleged Kennebunk prostitution business.

Strong’s attorneys, Daniel Lilley and Tina Nadeau,  announced plans to file an appeal in his case, but after sentencing on March 21st he withdrew an appeal seeking to overturn the jury’s verdicts. That clears the way for prosecutors to call him as a witness if Wright goes to trial, because his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination no longer apply.

Atty. Sarah Churchill, representing Wright, filed a motion to buy more time for  settlement negotiations to play out.

3-16-13
York County Deputy District Attorney Justina McGettigan said “taxpayers should be pleased” by the time-consuming and costly law enforcement effort that has resulted, so far, in the conviction of Strong.

“Strong’s attorney, Daniel Lilley, frequently described the case as overkill, saying his client faced difficult odds against the state’s “unlimited resources” and at one point before the trial referred to what he called “prosecutors on steroids.”

But McGettigan defended the effort on Wednesday after the guilty verdict was announced, saying police and the district attorney’s office are obligated to prosecute crimes under Maine law.

“The List,” as it came to be known, included some prominent local residents. Curiosity about who else is on it has helped propel a local scandal to the global media stage.”

“McGettigan said the statute of limitations for engaging a prostitute is three years from the date of the alleged incident, and investigators will continue compiling evidence in the coming weeks to determine if there is enough to charge additional individuals.”

“Lilley said he was “disappointed” with the verdict but he never argues with a jury.” 
McGettigan did speak to the media. ”We’re pleased that the jury found the evidence convincing,” McGettigan said. “They believed the overwhelming evidence we showed them that Mark Strong was guilty of promoting prostitution.”

Strong did not testify and Wright was not called as a witness.
McGettigan said she and Atty. Churchill, Wright’s attorney, met on Wednesday, March 13th  for what the prosecutor called “a settlement conference.”

Assistant Attorney General William Stokes has said that prosecutors from his office who specialize in tax prosecutions and benefits fraud will prosecute Wright on the tax-related charges.
Wright is alleged to have received more than $10,000 in state aid, including food stamps, that she was not eligible for because of her income from prostitution. Even though that money was made illegally, it’s considered income.

 As of December 21, 2012 64 men have been charged. Another 32 men charged as clients in the case have entered not guilty pleas in writing through their attorneys, avoiding in-person court appearances. The remainder have yet to reach their arraignment dates.

Update of 2-14-13 Freedom of Access requests. FOIA – clarification, February 7, 2013
FOIA response from D.A. Kathryn Slattery, dated February 14, 2013 claiming the remaining suspects have not been charged.

Do you smell something?

Read more here: http://unmasker4maine.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/new-post-kennebunk-me-prostitution-case/