Nemacolin man admits being driver for prostitutes
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WAYNESBURG – The Nemacolin man who was arrested in May for driving two women and a teenage girl to a Waynesburg hotel to engage in prostitution has pleaded guilty.
Thomas William Simpkins, III, of 162 Wood Ave., will serve 90 days’ probation for a reduced charge of disorderly conduct by providing transport. He was originally charged with promoting prostitution and transporting prostitution. His sentence is to run consecutively to sentences he received in Cumberland Township in July for criminal trespass and prowling at night and in March for simple assault and disorderly conduct. He is also to complete 90 hours of community service.
On May 23, Simpkins provided transportation to the Econo Lodge in Waynesburg for Christina Colina, 23, of 363 Sherman Ave., Nemacolin, Kimberly Ann Jones, 24, of 437 Sheridan Ave., Nemacolin, and an unidentified underage girl.
Simpkins gave police a written statement after his arrest indicating he was aware of the trio’s intent to engage in prostitution when he agreed to take them there. Simpkins told police he was charging them $10 in exchange for the ride.
A state trooper was contacted via text messaging by Colina May 23 with an offer to exchange money for sex. It was not made clear in the affidavit how Colina obtained the number of the trooper or if she was aware to whom she was speaking in the text messages. Colina stated a price and sent the officer images of herself, Jones and the girl. The officer was advised of what they were willing to do for the money and asked to provide condoms and $10 for their driver, Simpkins.
Colina was sentenced in December to 3 to 6 years in a state correctional facility after she pleaded guilty to charges of criminal conspiracy to promote prostitution, inducing another to become a prostitute, two counts of promoting prostitution and other prostitution-related offenses.
Jones pleaded guilty in December to prostitution and related offenses. She received a sentence of six days to 12 months in jail with credit for time served and ordered to complete 50 hours of community service.