Ex-Pittsburgh cop faces prostitution hearing


August 17, 2012 at 8:45a.m.

Ex-Pittsburgh cop faces prostitution hearing

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A former Pittsburgh police officer is set to appear in court on prostitution charges.

Authorities had withdrawn six of nine charges against 45-year-old Michael Johns in October but refiled the charges last month and added two additional counts. The preliminary hearing to determine whether Johns will stand trial is set for this morning..

Johns was arrested in August after investigators said he paid for rental cars for the women, helped them obtain drugs and allowed them to use his home computer to post online ads.

Johns resigned from the department last year.

Johns and his attorney have not commented on the charges.

Johns is the third former city officer to face prostitution charges in recent years. Former narcotics officers Talib Ghafoor and Faquar Holland were sentenced to probation in April after pleading no contest.