Male prostitutes, johns targeted in D.C. police sting - Washington Blade: Gay and Lesbian News, Entertainment, Politics and Opinion

NOVEMBER 22, 2009


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James L. Walls Jr. (Photo courtesy of www.districtheights.org)

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Male prostitutes, johns targeted in D.C. police sting
Official says non-commercial ‘cruising’ not prosecuted

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May 09, 2008 | By: LOU CHIBBARO J | COMMENTS

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/> He is also a licensed and ordained Baptist minister, the web site says, and serves as associate pastor of Forestville New Redeemer Baptist church in Forestville, Md.

Under the District of Columbia’s SLIP and prostitution statutes, an arrest for soliciting prostitution is a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. A first time conviction almost always results in a suspended sentence with a period of probation, Bray said.

Rick Rosendall, vice president of the Gay & Lesbian Activists Alliance, said his group had not been aware that D.C. police were targeting male prostitutes and their customers in a sting operation. Rosendall said the group would have been outraged and would have planned a possible protest if it learned that police were using the SLIP statute to make non-prostitution arrests for men seeking out other men for pickups.

But he said the group also feels that making prostitution arrests against any group is a waste of police resources and prevents police from devoting more resources to addressing violent crimes, including murders. He said prostitution should be decriminalized, zoned and regulated.

“These people know that these kinds of laws don’t work,” Rosendall said. “They know that they can’t eliminate prostitution. They know this is a waste of time and it doesn’t solve any problem. It doesn’t help anybody. It only hurts people, “he said. “It makes absolutely no sense from a policy point of view and from an allocation of resources point of view.”

Bray said police initiate enforcement activity against prostitution in response to community complaints. Rosendall and Kameny, who has been a longtime advocate for legalizing prostitution, have said the neighborhood problems caused by street prostitution are a byproduct of a prohibition that forces prostitutes to ply their trade on the street rather than allow them to confine their activity to non-residential, designated areas that would become possible under legalization.

COMMENTS

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stephenclark
Washington, DC

0

What an outrage that callous, overzealous policing has allowed a trivial indiscretion to destroy a career! Why, exactly, would it not adequately serve neighborhood needs for police to give johns a warning and order them to move along, rather than bring the wrath of the criminal justice system down on their heads? Public outing, alienation of friends and family, and destruction of a career are grossly disproportionate punishments for the trivial wrong of impairing a neighborhood's atmosphere by soliciting a prostitute there.

Posted 5/9/08 - 7:36 AM

dc-20008
New Orleans, La

0

stephenclark, the police are upholding the law as written by the DC government. You can't blame the police for Mr. Wall's actions. He is responsible for the situation. He will get his day in court. Also, how do you know he wasn't given "move along" notification in the past? As for public outing, Mr Walls did that to himself when he publicly solicited for sex. The outfall of his actions are all HIS responsibility. No one elses. Personal Responsibility. Look it up.

Posted 5/9/08 - 9:49 AM

kdogg36
Hanove, Md

0

Stephen - I agree with you on this one! The only bad guy in this story is the filthy thug carrying a gun for the State and destroying people's lives for non-crimes.

Posted 5/9/08 - 2:43 PM

Sheldon
Alexandria, Va

0

Canada allows prostitution, but you can't do it on the street. By default, it's the same in the District. We almost never hear of the DC police cracking down on prostitutes operating out of their homes and hotels, via the Internet and print ads. Yet, there's a lot more of that than there is streetwalking. The mayor would have done himself a big favor had he taken his $40 and gotten a "locker" at the Crew Club.

Posted 5/9/08 - 5:52 PM

Ronnie

0

Why is it necessary to print the man's name & post his photo on the front page? AND other details of his personal life to further identify him? The story is about what is happening to Gays. The Blade has contributed to the bringing down of this gentleman who appears to make positive contributions to society. He screwed up & you are contributing to his punishment.

Posted 5/10/08 - 9:39 AM

mdhrdtop

0

In many locations prostitution arrests and other types of arrests are often up in election years. Police and politicians may be more sensitive to voter concerns in election years. But voters have short memories and are likely to remember what was done this year, not two or more years ago. The media also sensationalizes news allowing us to watch the public destruction of other peoples lives. And sometimes first offenders are just that, but more likely it's just the first time they were caught. Without intervention, such as an arrest, patterns of self destructive behavior continue for years.

Posted 5/10/08 - 7:39 PM

samtrak
Washington, DC

0

I wonder what Rev. Walls has to say about homosexuality. Is he sending a message of acceptance from the pulpit or is he preaching the same old hell and damnation like most Baptist ministers?

Posted 5/11/08 - 12:56 AM

Mr Chris

0

Amen Ronnie, I am with you on this one. If this was Jim Graham they would be trying to find a way to defend him. I know people close to him and they said this will all be settled in court. But you gotta give the Blade a Grade (S) Stupid on this one. OH WELL.

Posted 5/11/08 - 9:56 AM

dc-20008
New Orleans, La

0

Mr. Chris and Ronnie: So you are complaining that a newspaper is reporting news?? Huh?? If the man didn't want his business in the press, then he should have kept it behind closed doors. Don't blame the messenger. Blame to stupid fool picking up tricks on the street. Oh, and why the reference to Jim Graham? He's out and proud. Too bad the "Rev." wasn't. He could have avoided the issue himself.

Posted 5/11/08 - 10:10 PM

stephenclark
Washington, DC

0

dc-20008, police make discretionary decisions about enforcement priorities, and the decision to launch a string operation is one of them. Jaywalking is against the law too, but we haven't turned DC into police state in order to enforce that one, nor have police arrested Senator Vitter or the rest of the DC madam's database. I don't share either your pent up rage about Walls or your callous and fascistic attitude about law enforcement. samtrak, even if Rev. Walls is antigay, the police sting is still objectionable. Hypocrisy and prejudice are contempible, but they aren't crimes.

Posted 5/12/08 - 5:35 PM

dc-20008
New Orleans, La

0

pent up rage? what are you talking about? In case you have missed my point, I am thrilled at the police taking action. DO MORE!! I use to live in that neighborhood and know all too well the traffic, noise, and mess left by whores and johns. Good for the police for doing something about it. Why not publicize your address and welcome the whores and johns to YOUR neighborhood?? Be sure to relay it to Mr Walls as well.

Posted 5/13/08 - 12:37 PM