Man called police wanting money back from prostitute

Staff report

AUSTINTOWN

A man and a woman both face a slew of charges after meeting in person for the first time after connecting online for sex.

Priscilla D. Scott, 29, of Cleveland, was arrested on charges of misdemeanor prostitution, possession of criminal tools, drug paraphernalia and possession of drug-abuse instruments. Todd W. Higgins Jr., 18, of Argonne Drive, was arrested on felony charges of robbery and misdemeanor prostitution and falsification.

Both were arraigned Wednesday in Mahoning County Area Court here. Higgins bond was set at $10,000 cash or surety and he asked for court-appointed counsel. Scott entered a plea of not guilty, and her bond was set at $3,000 cash or surety. She is scheduled for a trial 9:30 a.m. Oct. 15, while Higgins is scheduled for a preliminary hearing the same day at the same time, online court records showed.

According to a police report, Higgins called police 5:22 p.m. Tuesday and said Scott and three males had robbed him of $170 that were in a pocket of his pants. He told police he met Scott through Facebook and texting, and she had come to his back door Tuesday night. However, police said he wanted his money back from the payment for prostitution and called police.

Higgins told police Scott pulled a handgun on him, but a witness, Higgins’ mother in an upstairs window, did not see the weapon, and a handgun was not found when Scott was arrested later that same night. While Scott was leaving, Higgins grabbed her wallet and police used that information to track her car and phone to a home in Youngstown. Once at that home, police waited until Scott got back in the vehicle and pulled her over.

Authorities found six needles, suspected crack cocaine and possible heroin in a needle cap, leading to the drug charges against her.

On the charge of prostitution for Scott, the charge details, “did engage in sexual activity for hire” and on the possession of criminal tools, “cellphone used to arrange sex for hire.”