3 women facing charges related to prostitution

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Three women face misdemeanor charges in Youngstown Municipal Court, including loitering for prostitution, after their arrests Tuesday on the South Side.

Kimberly Harris, 33, of Campbell, was arraigned before Judge Elizabeth Kobly of Youngstown Municipal Court on charges of loitering to engage in prostitution and drug paraphernalia. She is free on her own recognizance until a trial Jan. 25 before Judge Kobly.

Tara Stewart, 21, of Struthers, was arraigned before Judge Kobly on possessing drug paraphernalia, two counts of possessing drug instruments and a warrant for loitering for prostitution. She is in Mahoning County jail on a combined $8,500 bond pending her next court appearance.

Brittany Watson, 25, of Youngstown, was due to be arraigned before Judge Kobly on a charge of loitering to engage in prostitution, but failed to appear for the hearing. A warrant was issued for her arrest.

All three were arrested at different times Tuesday along Hillman Street. Officers said the area is known to be frequented by prostitutes and were patrolling the area in an unmarked police vehicle.

According to police, Watson waved at officers’ unmarked car then tried to open the door and get in the car when officers stopped. Reports say Watson looked surprised and said, “Oh, it’s the police,” when she realized she was getting into an unmarked police car. Police previously charged Watson with resisting arrest.

Reports say officers watched Harris walk around the Hillman Street/Evergreen Avenue area for about five minutes with no clear destination. The woman reportedly then began waving at passing cars in an attempt to stop them.

Police approached Harris, who told officers that she already has two prior convictions for prostitution-related charges. She also was previously arrested for falsification.

Officers saw Stewart walking near Hillman and Princeton streets and stopped her because of a warrant for drug paraphernalia and loitering for prostitution. She was arrested on the warrants and new charges after a suspected crack pipe was found in her pocket. Stewart was also arrested on a charge of possession of drug instruments earlier in 2011.