CRANBERRY TWP — Five women are jailed following a weekend prostitution sting in Cranberry Township.

The investigation ended Friday night after Cranberry Township police undercover officers arranged meetings at a hotel and a house.

The suspects, including three from out of county and one from out of state, were nabbed at different times in the evening after showing up for the illegal trysts, most with condoms and some with sex toys.

They were detained and charged after accepting money from an undercover officer, money that ranged from $200 to $300.

Each suspect arranged the meeting with officers after being contacted on their cell phones, which were listed on advertisements on two web sites. Those ads “openly solicited sexual activity in exchange for money,” according to a police affidavit.

Police arrested Chelsey L. Hulihan, 21, of Erie; Annalisa M. McLaughlin, 32, of Pittsburgh; Lauren M. Nero, 26, of Sacramento, Calif.; Jenna F. Peitz, 27, of Pittsburgh: and Stefanie I. Rios, 20, of Cranberry Township.

District Judge Wayne Seibel arraigned all the defendants on charges of promoting prostitution, criminal use of a communication facility, possessing an instrument of crime and prostitution.

The instruments of crimes in the cases included cell phones, condoms and sex toys.

Additionally, Nero and Rios were both charged with conspiracy to promote prostitution. Peitz also is charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia and Rios is charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana.

The suspects were placed in the Butler County Prison following arraignment.

Hulihan, McLaughlin and Peitz were arrested at the Marriott Pittsburgh North hotel on Cranberry Woods Drive, and Nero and Rios were arrested together at Rios' apartment on Creekview Circle.

At the apartment, court documents said, police seized $8,160 that Nero and Rios admitted were “proceeds from engaging in prostitution.”

In Rios' bedroom, police also found a bag of suspected marijuana.

When police arrested Peitz, documents said, they found her with two anti-anxiety pills for which she did not have a prescription, as well as two empty stamp bags of suspected heroin and a syringe.

In a separate case, Seibel arraigned Peitz on charges filed by Ross Township police stemming from the alleged strong-arm robbery of a man who solicited her services in March.

Peitz is accused of getting into an argument over money with the “customer” at his home in Ross, police said.

During the dispute, she made a call on her cell phone. A short time later, an unidentified man appeared at the home, police said. Peitz and the other man started to fight with the “John.”

At some point, Peitz brandished a knife and threatened to kill the alleged victim. She eventually stole the victim's wallet and she and her suspected accomplice fled.

She is charged in that case with robbery, conspiracy and aggravated assault.

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