Former prosecutor charged with promoting prostitution
A former assistant Hennepin County prosecutor was charged Thursday with promoting prostitution after allegedly running an operation at Minneapolis hotels.
John Paul St. Marie, 66, faces six felony charges stemming from the alleged operation that paired prostitutes with "nice guy" customers.
The Ramsey County Attorney is prosecuting the case because St. Marie was a former employee in the Hennepin County Attorney's Office.
According to the criminal complaint, St. Marie set up appointments for prostitutes with men he claimed were safe and could pay well.
An investigation of the alleged prostitution operation began two years ago. Last year, several Minneapolis hotel patrons were arrested as police investigators conducted surveillance.
The arrestees told police St. Marie had set up the meetings.
St. Marie is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Aug. 11.
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