Woman arrested following prostitution sting
CRANBERRY TWP — Police arrested a 55-year-old Ohio woman following a weekend prostitution sting in the township.
The suspect, Mary R. Rhoden of Steubenville, it turned out was wanted on by U.S. Marshals on a probation violation warrant, authorities said.
She is being held in the Butler County Prison without bail because of the Marshals' warrant.
Cranberry Township police during their investigation contacted by cell phone a woman listed in advertisements on a web site. The ads “openly solicited sexual activity” in exchange for money, according to court documents.
An undercover officer set up a tryst with the woman, later identified as Rhoden, on Saturday at the Hilton Garden Inn in the township. When they met, she advised that she “did not want to discuss price until later,” police said.
Rhoden was arrested. She had no identification on her and she gave two bogus names. Police, however, found her with a cell phone that they say she used to set up the “date” with the officer.