Pa. man arrested after answering sex ad

Staff report

AUSTINTOWN

A New Castle, Pa., man faces charges as part of the township police department’s ongoing sting operations “combating sex crimes in the area.”

Police posted an advertisement in a “women seeking men” section of a website “known for prostitution,” posing as a female, according to the police report.

Richard Jones, 57, contacted the number listed in the ad beginning in September to solicit sex, the report said. He contacted the number Wednesday, again soliciting sex, telling the officer: “I can get together with you if you would like, you know I will be very generous for your time,” the report said.

Police set up a time Wednesday afternoon to meet Jones at a property on Compass West Drive. When he was arrested, police found he had two condoms, a liter of Pepsi, $100 and a bottle of body lotion, the report said.

Jones faces charges of soliciting sex and possessing criminal tools. He has a hearing next Wednesday in Mahoning County Area Court.