Salem woman tells police she was a prostitute to pay child support

AUSTINTOWN — A Salem woman arrested for soliciting sex at an Austintown hotel Monday evening told officers she was involved in prostitution to pay her child support.

According to a police report, Melinda Shingler, 34, of Butcher Road, told officers she had already met six clients since Sept. 15 in Austintown, all responders to her ad on backpage.com.