161 arrested in statewide prostitution sting; Elyria councilman among them

ELYRIA — The largest human trafficking sting in state history saw 161 arrests over a one-week period. Elyria Councilman Mark Jessie was among those arrested. Jessie was charged with misdemeanor solicitation of prostitution Thursday around 4:30 p.m. in the 300 block of Washington Avenue. He was released on a summons to appear in court Wednesday. He was one of 14 men arrested in Elyria for solicitation. According to a news release from Elyria police, six women were identified as potential human trafficking victims and referred to local outreach programs. Two of the men charged with solicitation, Herbert Hagwood, 45, of Lorain, and Maurice Bonner, 26, of Grafton, also were charged with improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle. Also arrested were David Emmot, 59, of Elyria; Jamal Fahie, 33, of Cleveland; Kenneth Cain, 73, of Elyria; Dominick Scarpelli, 43, of Amherst; Guy Sapienza, 37, of Amherst; Vicente Criado Watanabe, 51, of Elyria; Michael Painter, 52, of Avon; Ronald Kucbel, 73, of Lorain; Donald Lowther, 69, of Castalia; Joel Hill, 33, of Wellington; and Ronald Friedburg, 66, of Highland Heights. "The Elyria Police Department recognizes that sexual exploitation has a dangerous impact on our community," police Chief Duane Whitely said. "Therefore, we are committed to preventing and reducing human trafficking. The Elyria Police Department is proud to work alongside the Cuyahoga Regional Human Trafficking Task Force, Lorain County Prosecutor's Office and other state and local agencies that are equally committed to this cause." An additional 50 people were arrested statewide for trying to sell services. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in a news conference Monday the agencies targeted the buying of sex specifically. He said although police cannot arrest their way out of human trafficking, arrests are still a part of tackling the problem. Yost said if there were no buyers, there would be no trafficking. Reducing the demand means reducing the number of victims. There were three men arrested in the sting for trying to buy sex with a minor. Those three arrests came out of Franklin County. Yost said there is no guarantee buyers know whether a sex worker is a willing participant or whether they're being forced by a pimp. He said pimps don't show up during the exchange, and a victim likely won't voice to a buyer that they're being forced. Yost said anyone who purchases sex is taking the risk that they are taking part in human trafficking. "If we're interested in the basic dignity of human begins, we have to be concerned about those who purchase sex," Yost said. Lorain County Prosecutor JD Tomlinson, said there have been three successful sting operations in Lorain County in the past six months. He said meeting with victims has had a profound impact on him. "My office will continue to lead diligently to provide assistance and hope for the victims and severe punishment for those that traffic human beings," he said. Yost said prostitution — and those buying — is happening everywhere and in almost every neighborhood. He said the "days of a wink and a slap on the wrist are over." "I will not rest until no one in Ohio buys or sells human beings," Yost said. "... You're not just going out there on a private thing with two consenting adults. You're taking a risk that those people are being trafficked." During the operation, he said police arrested a firefighter, a teacher, a professor, a pilot, a man with a 2-year-old in the car and a City Council member. Jessie, the incumbent Democratic 3rd Ward councilman, is running for reelection in November and faces a challenge from Republican candidate Maurice Corbin III. He has been on City Council for eight years. Corbin did not return a request for comment. According to a police report, Jessie arranged for services through online communications. He agreed to pay $60 for 30 minutes and brought a condom, the report said. His phone and the money were seized by police as evidence. Police said Jessie agreed to talk with detectives without an attorney present, and he confessed to soliciting prostitution. In a statement to The Chronicle-Telegram on Friday, Jessie said his action was "incredibly foolish and selfish." He said he does not plan to resign, as the voters will have a say in the election in five weeks. "I want to make the sincerest apologies to my family, my Council colleagues, city employees and my constituents," he said. "I hope that this act of poor judgment will not define me in the future." Jessie, 64, of Michigan Avenue, has no prior criminal record in Lorain County save for three traffic tickets in Elyria Municipal Court between 1993 and 2016. He said he has no other criminal charges. Jessie said Monday he started reaching out to campaign donors immediately and offered to return donations. He said only one person has requested the donation be returned. He said many donors and constituents have offered their support for the upcoming election. In an email to donors, close friends and acquaintances, Jessie apologized for the "horrible position" he put his wife and children in. He said in the email this was unquestionably the worst decision of his life and that his only option was to take responsibility and begin mending relationships. Jessie declined to comment further Monday. Jessie has been placed on leave at his position with Lorain County Community College as a part-time choral director. The Chronicle has requested his personnel file from LCCC and also his file from Elyria Schools, where he worked as the choral director from 1991 to 2014. At Monday's City Council meeting, Elyria Republican Party Chair Jeff Baxter — and candidate for an at-large Council seat — said Democrats are wrong to support anything other than a resignation. "Their failure to do this shows they are unfit to lead this city forward through the many challenges ahead," Baxter said. "... This is his character, the lack of personal integrity brought to light, hidden until caught." Council President Vic Stewart said Council does not condone Jessie's behavior or his actions. Right now, he said Council members are letting it go through the legal process and keep an eye on how it develops. "We take these charges very seriously," he said. "Mr. Jessie will be held accountable for his actions." Jessie did not attend the Monday meeting of Elyria City Council. Elyria Law Director Amanda Deery requested a special prosecutor in the case: Nick Hanek, a former assistant prosecuting attorney for Lorain and Medina counties. He has been appointed special prosecutor several times to handle local cases when a conflict arises. Jessie is due to appear at the Elyria Municipal Court at 10:10 a.m. Wednesday. Contact Laina Yost at (440) 329-7121 or lyost@chroniclet.com.