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State police went too far in sex sting, court says

HARRISBURG - An appeals court has ruled that state police botched an eastern Pennsylvania prostitution investigation in which troopers gave an informant money to pay for sex four times at a massage parlor, along with a total of $180 for the man's trouble.

The Superior Court opinion issued Thursday upheld a Lehigh County judge's ruling that threw out prostitution charges against Sun Cha Chon on the ground that the government acted outrageously.

The appeals court ruling described how the man first approached state police to say he had been solicited for sex at the Shiatsu Spa near Allentown. Troopers then supplied the unnamed man with government money and sent him back four times to engage in what the county judge called "a smorgasbord of sexual activity" during June and July 2006.

Lehigh County Court Judge Robert L. Steinberg said the man's subsequent visits did not advance the police investigation. He was given $360 total to pay for the services that allegedly involved Chon and another woman, plus the extra $180 for his time.

"The outrageous nature is it went beyond what was necessary to prove the prostitution charge," said Chon's lawyer, Maureen Coggins.

"We expect more from the police, and demand that they conduct their investigations and utilize their resources without resorting to such embarrassing investigative techniques," Steinberg said in an opinion that the appeals court cited at length.

"No adequate supervisory guidance was provided, no standards existed for this type of investigation, and some of the behavior by the participants was sophomoric," Steinberg wrote.

The lead investigator said the informant contacted police because he had been offended by the offer of sex, according to the Superior Court ruling.

"It is difficult to imagine how this informant could have been so offended, and yet proceed to engage in oral and sexual intercourse with the two women in this case and laugh about it with the investigating troopers after each occasion," wrote Judge John T. Bender for the three-judge Superior Court panel.

Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin said officers sent the informant back repeatedly to help them determine the scope of the organization. He said he planned to seek review by the state Supreme Court.

"Is it outrageous police conduct if it's done in a drug setting or if it's done in an investigation into weapons sales?" Martin said.

State police spokeswoman Lt. Myra Taylor said the informant's behavior did not conform with state police standards, and the troopers' conduct was addressed internally.

 

Comments   
Posted 05:12 AM, 11/07/2009
FJG JR
When is the government going to realize, we don't need this layer of police work. They are nothing but glorified chauffers and ticket writers. Eliminate them and all Inspector General offices. Cut the fat and waste out of government. Or else there won't be a government.
Posted 07:39 AM, 11/07/2009
The Stickler
This repeat customer being "offended" by the offer of unsolicited sex is like the old joke about the bad food at a restaurant that serves "such small portions"! I'm sure he was just looking for an honest "massage". Yeah, I'm feeling a little sore, think I'll get a massage and a body shampoo at the "Shiatsu Spa". Sounds legit;)
Posted 08:06 AM, 11/07/2009
ratbag
Let's take off our pilgrim hats and legalize it. Then we can stop wasting taxpayer money on this kind of nonsense. And what kind of men are these police officers in Lehigh county who laugh with each other after a sex act has occurred? Why don't we all just grow up?
Posted 08:23 AM, 11/07/2009
joelombardo
how are you supposed to enforce the law - you have to have proof - sex for money - I think the judges are afraid they are going to get caught in one of those places
Posted 08:23 AM, 11/07/2009
joelombardo
how are you supposed to enforce the law - you have to have proof - sex for money - I think the judges are afraid they are going to get caught in one of those places
Posted 08:39 AM, 11/07/2009
Liberty4All
This behavior goes on in all sorts of relationships, only in different settings. Maybe the state police should start policing pick up bars, supermarkets, etc. for come ons, innuendos, pick up lines, etc. C'mon, this sex police stuff is out of hand. Decriminalize the worlds oldest profession, regulate it, and above all else tax it. Then we could remove or reprioritize police activity (i.e. go after violent victim based crimes, frauds against the public like corruption and waste of taxpayers dollars, etc.) and lower our taxes at the same time. Smarter than a fifth grader?
Posted 11:50 AM, 11/07/2009
phillypapers
Your tax money got some guy laid.
Posted 11:50 AM, 11/07/2009
EdZohn
Does it burn now too?
Posted 01:16 PM, 11/07/2009
2012 ~ Ron Paul
Stupidity! STDs for everybody!
Posted 01:44 PM, 11/07/2009
Tozmanian
I would like to make my services available to the police. Sounds like a pretty good job to me.
Posted 01:54 PM, 11/07/2009
southphillyitaliana
Typical male scum. Thinking only with their d*&ks. Whatever happened to being a real man? No wonder humanity's doomed.
Posted 02:36 PM, 11/07/2009
CountryRose
"Offended" ???
Posted 03:32 PM, 11/07/2009
bottomline
The gals are good at doing tricks, maybe someday the law will learn a new trick and let nature do what come natural.
Posted 06:16 PM, 11/07/2009
9eyes
@FJG JR: In your haste to consistently be the first to post your opinion you overlook the fact that the PSP is the primary (only) police agency for over half of the Commonwealth of PA. Maybe you watched too many episodes of "CHiPS" as a kid and are confusing the PSP with a highway patrol agency.
Posted 10:12 PM, 11/07/2009
scorpio27
Who organized the sting? The 3 stooges, or Caligula???
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