A Schuylkill County man and woman are facing prostitution charges after police say they arranged to have sex for money to pay off a phone bill.
Police in Pottsville say they were called to a home on Race St. in the city to speak to a woman who was being harassed by a man and that he paid to have sex with her.
During the course of the investigation, police say they learned that Melinda Knoll, 34, of Pottsville, and Gary Thompson, 48, of Schuylkill Haven, met late last year on Facebook’s dating section. However, they did not meet in person until April of this year when he stopped at her home and gave her $20 for gas.
The two continued to chat online but then Knoll allegedly told Thompson that her phone would soon be deactivated due to non-payment. That’s when Thompson allegedly propositioned Knoll, saying he’d give her the money to pay her phone bill if she’d give him “a preview” of sexual interactions with her.
Police say Knoll responded by asking Thompson if he was serious and he confirmed he was, indeed. Knoll agreed to Thompson’s proposition and they reportedly went to a location on the Port Carbon-Saint Clair Highway and they consumated their relationship. That’s when Thompson allegedly gave Knoll a $900 check but when she tried cashing it, she couldn’t because she needed his authorization.
Thompson confirmed this account of the interactions between he and Knoll, police say. He allegedly said he didn’t authorize the check to be cashed after he’d learned that Knoll had multiple people on her phone plan.
Knoll is facing a misdemeanor charge of soliciting prostitution and Thompson is charged with patronizing a prostitute.
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