4 Arrested for Running Craigslist Prostitution Ring

Police are warning both prostitutes and those who use their services that exchanging money for sexual acts is a crime and can be dangerous.

(WOODBURN, Ore. ) - Four people were arrested by Woodburn police, accused of a running a prostitution ring involving the popular website Craigslist.

Woodburn police say they looked for ad postings on Craigslist.com for people soliciting sex in exchange for money. On Thursday night, undercover officers met each of the suspects at a Woodburn motel and made the arrests.

Arrested were: 35-year-old Jacqueline Duncan, 22-year-old Timothee Brassinne, 29-year-old Amy Gibson and 28-year-old Amber Allan.

Police said the sting operation is a way to send a message to both prostitutes and those who use their services that exchanging money for sexual acts is a crime and can be dangerous.

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untouchable July 26, 2010 1:58 pm (Pacific time)

Summer 2010, Hahaha, what do you expect from underpaid, hated, graveyard shifty style cops. really, I see Pointek has pissed off a few others. Yeah, he held me at my own home in cuffs for 2 hours after it was burglerized. He asked me questions about how i had my truck(350) and house in s.salem. Made accusations that i robbed my own home, ??? huh, wtf? for what?? THEN THEY LEFT, SIMPLY LEFT?? It was like a being in a twisted movie wow... this is really who protects us....??? Don't involve cops unless it is a life or death situation and even then you only got a 50/50 chance, or should I say 51/50 chance- unbalanced!

West Salem Mom January 25, 2009 6:53 pm (Pacific time)

Any one interested in a trial involving Piontek - my son was one of his tasing victims and we are going to trial and boy we have him over a barrel (video) i mean. He need sto get punished or maybe even tased a couple of times. Marion County Court - February 17 and 18 trial date.

West Salem Mom January 25, 2009 6:48 pm (Pacific time)

My son Ryan was also tased by PEE-On (Piontek) in Oct 2007. This officer is soo out of control. Tased him 4 times, when he was unconscious then lied in his report about it. This cop needs to lose his job.

Frank December 19, 2008 11:46 am (Pacific time)

Neal, the problem with your "questions" is that when things go to court you better have either a witness or a recording of the question, because I can promise you it won't come up otherwise. It will end up being the police officer's word against the suspect, and who do you think the judge and or jury will believe?

Informative? November 22, 2008 2:09 pm (Pacific time)

PissedOffMom - you know they have both been accused of fabricating evidence and being untruthful. They won't properly investigate these guys. They apparently are part of the power structure at the Salem PD.

Informative? November 22, 2008 2:07 pm (Pacific time)

Piontek and Connolly are supervisor and subordinate. They have had their share of complaints and lawsuits, but nothing ever seems to change. Ask about excessive force lawsuits. You'd be shocked at how the behavior is allowed to continue.

PissedOffMom March 10, 2008 10:44 am (Pacific time)

My son was tased by a Salem Police Officer, namely: Piontek (liar-liar) Salem Police are out of control and are abusing their very own citizens they were sworn to protect, which is a bunch of crap. Now, I just heard on News last night a 17 year was tased for daytime curfew -- I heard one of the officers involved was Connolly, ring a bell with anyone? Are Pionek (I call him PEE-ON) and Connolly buddies?

AF December 30, 2007 11:43 am (Pacific time)

The central question that determines whether something is entrapment or not is, "Are the police stopping a crime that would otherwise have occurred, or are they creating a crime that would not otherwise have occurred?" In this case, the criminal activity was initiated, not by the police, but by the Craigslist posters, so there is no basis to claim that the crime was created by the police. And needless to say, the idea that entrapment has something to do with what Neal Feldman calls "The Question" is just silly; unlike the actual statutes against entrapment, there is no benefit to society from preventing police from doing undercover operations effectively.

Justin December 17, 2007 8:10 pm (Pacific time)

Just to be clear: Neal is 100% wrong about "the question", and counting on his advice to detect cops will not help you escape conviction through a bogus claim of entrapment. Police may freely lie, during the activities they catch you doing and interrogation. They can say "no, I'm not a cop; I'm not working for the police; I'm not connected to them at all" and it has no bearing on the entrapment issue.

Sal December 16, 2007 10:18 pm (Pacific time)

Hey Neal - check out volokh.com to see how hilariously wrong you are. they cite to your post as an example of how misinformed people are on this issue.

GodsofChaos December 5, 2007 10:56 am (Pacific time)

"Simply this... Ask the other person in the planned transaction "Are you a police officer or are you in any way working directly or indirectly with any law enforcement agency?"Neal Feldman Hi I am Neal Feldman and I have been giving advice to criminals for ten years.

CJ December 5, 2007 6:46 am (Pacific time)

Neal, That is the one!

Ron December 2, 2007 9:42 pm (Pacific time)

Appears to be typical small town police activity ...almost hilarious! I agree with Neal Feldman...it is entrapment under any jurisdiction when an officer is asked whether he is a police officer or not and boldly answers with a lie! A desperate shameful act by an individual that is payed by us, the taxpayers, to protect and serve! Woodburn Oregon....need I say more?

Joe C December 2, 2007 9:01 pm (Pacific time)

That is for the movies. They can say whatever they want and that is that. There is no question. I have learned 1rst hand.

Neal Feldman December 2, 2007 7:44 pm (Pacific time)

Hope et al - Sorry but if they lie and entrap me they are never going to get a plea deal because I know they will have no case. If you are just operating on you being the victim of cops et al so corrupt that nothing matters then why bother because you are screwed no matter what in that situation. I am willing to presume none of those four arrested asked the question. And for myself, if I were ever in such a situation, I now have this record saved. Why would I advocate others asking a question I would not myself ask? So much for the word of the cops vs mine. But like I said, if the judge etc are so corrupt that this would not matter it is the least of our problems as a society. I agree with those who say those in power should be held to a higher standard and to more severe penalties. As fot Joe's comments have you YET submitted the details of the case you mention to the editor at newsroom@salem-news.com ? if not then you just continue to whine just to whine, not to actually do anything about it.

Citizen Joe December 2, 2007 5:19 pm (Pacific time)

Hope, Right you are! Even when police brutalize citizens and destroy and conceal evidence, they are not taken to task. Liars are liars, and Piontek, Birr and Connolly are just the start. When push comes to shove, even the Marion County jail will lie and fabricate to help their brethren. It appears that we are living in a state that is becoming more and more fascist!

anonymous December 2, 2007 3:36 pm (Pacific time)

Do you (Neal)think that cops don't get away with these types of lies?

Hope December 2, 2007 2:37 pm (Pacific time)

Neal, Don't be so quick to judge peoples intelligence based on simply "asking the question". Of course the Police are going to lie! As for having evidence dismissed, well, that requires going to trial in the first place. The majority of criminal cases in Marion Count (and pretty much everywhere else) never reach trial stage. Defendants are coerced into plea bargaining and never stand a chance. Besides, even if one is fortunate enough to be able to afford an attorney who is willing to go to trial, it is your word against the police. Who do you think the courts are going to believe?

Neal Feldman December 2, 2007 12:15 pm (Pacific time)

When will folks ever learn? Ask "The Question" before you do or say anything that can get you pinched for prostitution (giving or getting). What is "the Question"? Simply this... Ask the other person in the planned transaction "Are you a police officer or are you in any way working directly or indirectly with any law enforcement agency?" If they do anything but immediately answer "NO" get out of Dodge. If they are cops or are working with them they will try and avoid answering the question or will try some kind of weasel answer. If they are working with the cops in any way any lie and say "NO" then the entire 'crime' is entrapment and anything (evidence or testimony) gained is inadmissable in court. In some jurisdictions they have tried to criminalize asking "The Question" but there is no way to criminalize it without violating several constitutional rights so any such law, whenever challenged, quickly falls. Just more cases of only the uninformed or stupid getting caught. Ah well...

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4 Arrested for Running Craigslist Prostitution Ring

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