4 women sent to jail for soliciting

Two of the women have an extensive criminal history.

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — The four women charged with soliciting for prostitution during a sting operation in the Belmont and North Park avenue areas last month have received jail sentences of between one and four months.

One of the women, Keysa Haynes, 39, of Oak Knoll Avenue, Warren, has been charged in Warren Municipal Court with crimes 39 times since 1995, court records show.

Another woman, Brita Brogdon, 41, of Tod Avenue, Warren, has 24 criminal cases dating back to 1995. Both women have been charged criminally several times since the start of 2008.

It was because Haynes had been charged with assault in August that she eventually received the longest jail term of the four women — 150 days in jail with credit for 26 days already served.

Judge Thomas Gysegem ruled that Haynes’ sentence for assault be served at the same time as her conviction for soliciting and having drug paraphernalia the night of the sting operation, court records show.

Brogdon was sentenced to 75 days in jail on charges of soliciting for prostitution and having drug paraphernalia.

Julie Tenney, 35, of Mahan Denman Road, Bristolville, was sentenced to 30 days in jail on a single charge of soliciting for prostitution; and Courtney Allgood, 22, of Forest Street N.E., Warren, received a 30-day jail sentence for soliciting for prostitution.

The arrests were made Oct. 9 by the Warren Police Department Narcotics/Vice Unit. An undercover officer, posing as someone wanting to buy sex, drove around the area and approached women standing on the street corners.

The arrests were made between 7:45 and 10:06 p.m. at the intersections of Belmont and Mercer avenues, Mercer Avenue and Atlantic Street, and North Park and Belmont avenues.

Neighborhood groups have repeatedly complained to city officials about prostitution and drug dealing in the area — which is north and east of Courthouse Square.

Police Chief John Mandopoulos said he thinks the sentencings will help scare off prostitution, but generally such stings only move the activity to another location, not stop it.

The prostitutes typically don’t mind spending time in the county jail because it helps them get free medical care, he said.