Million Dollar "Male Escort" Case Fremont, CA-Press Conference
What: Press Conference-SWOP-USA (Sex Workers Outreach Project-USA/NORCAL) protests entrapment and costly prosecution of Male Escort in Fremont
When: Thursday 12 Noon, Nov 1, 2007
Where: Fremont Municipal Court, 39439 Paseo Padre Parkway Fremont California.
Contacts: Carol Leigh 415-751-1659; Veronica Monet 888-903-0050; Robyn Few SWOP-USA-877-776-2004
Website: http://www.swop-usa.org
For Immediate Release 10/31/07
Budget Crisis City Prosecutes “Million Dollar” Male Escort Case:
Fremont Conducts Inter-County Bedroom Sting
In the midst of budget woes which have caused clogging and early closure of Fremont courts, the Alameda County District Attorney's Office has chosen to prosecute an expensive case against a San Francisco male escort.
Starchild was charged with prostitutioni as a result of entrapment in the course of a sting operation conducted by the Fremont Police Department on December 5th, 2005. The trial is being heard in Fremont 3 Court 2nd floor, Dept. 602, 39439 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont, California.
"This would be hilarious if it wasn't such a serious situation of entrapment," says Carol Leigh from BAYSWAN, Bay Area Sex Worker Advocacy Network. "These two female vice cops lure Starchild, a very, very handsome male escort, to Fremont of all places and offer to pay him money for sex."
Starchild is a well-known activist, a San Francisco hero to many. An active Libertarian, Starchild ran for Supervisor in 2006 with his occupation listed as "escort/exotic dancer." He is well known for the support he has offered others who are unfairly prosecuted for victimless offenses.
"Starchild, like most San Franciscans, would have little cause or desire to go to Fremont. I don't meant to put down Fremont, especially in light of the city's financial woes, but Fremont?" says Leigh.
"The city is already in financial trouble. They are forced to close the court early because of these financial pressures," explains Robyn Few, founder of SWOP-USA. "This money should be spent enforcing crimes of violence, robberies and burglaries to protect Fremont residents, not wasted in a long range internet entrapment of a male escort that has nothing whatsoever to do with Fremont."
Although no one can determine the potential cost of this case, estimates have ranged from nearly a half million to a million dollars including expenses for the decoy operation, court expenses and beyond.
San Francisco activists are outraged at this blatant inter-county sting, which by the D.A.'s own allegation, involved private activities by consenting adults, in another county.
"Not only is the entrapment absurd, but this sting operation sent local police fishing across county lines to lure consenting adults behind closed doors," says Veronica Monet of SWOP-USA.
The issue of the right to privacy for consensual adult behaviors has been established in a Supreme Court ruling, Lawrence V. Texas, in 2003. This was the second court case to reference this landmark ruling. The infamous D.C. Madame, Jean Palfrey, whose little black book rocked the federal government with sex scandals and at least one resignation, was the first to attempt a dismissal of the prostitutioni charges leveled against her based upon the Supreme Court decision. Since the prostitutioni she is accused of allegedly occurred between consenting adults and behind closed doors, Palfrey asserted that the government had no right to prosecute her.
Starchild's attorney, Erica Franklin, requested dismissal in the Matter of the State of California vs Starchild, Doc No. 216068 at the Fremont Municipal Court on this basis, however this motion was denied by Judge Keith Fudenna.
"The DA has discretion in regard to which cases to spend the taxpayers' money on. Meanwhile, the meter is running on the bill to taxpayers who as most polls have revealed, do not want to waste time and money prosecuting victimless "crimes" such as prostitutioni," says Robyn Few.
The case will be heard daily, but only between 1:30 and 4:30 due to Fremont's budget constraints.
