Police charge 3 with prostitution
From left, Anthony Blancato, Teasha Blue and Lawrence Luke
Lawrence Luke
Anthony Blancato
Teasha Blue
Three people were arrested Thursday night by a trooper with the state police vice unit after setting up a meeting with a suspected prostitute whose name and contact information he found while he was monitoring a website offering “escort” services.
Teasha Blue, 23, and Lawrence R. Luke, 51, both of Steubenville, Ohio, and Anthony S. Blancato, 43, of Toronto, Ohio, were each charged with prostitution as well as possession of crack and paraphernalia.
The trooper was viewing the website Thursday when he noticed Blue advertising herself as an escort. She posted a photograph of herself along with a telephone number, indicating she was available for “in-call” or “out-call” services. He sent her a test message inquiring about meeting her. The trooper then called Blue, complimenting her on her photograph.
She allegedly agreed to meet him for a sex in a parking lot on Route 18 in Hanover Township about 9:45 p.m. and the two agreed on a price of $200.
The trooper and four other troopers went to the parking lot. Blue got in the undercover officer’s car and asked him if he was a cop, which he denied. Blue then lifted her shirt to expose herself, and was taken into custody.
Blancato is accused of transporting her to the rendezvous while Luke allegedly made the arrangements for the transportation. They were in a vehicle also parked in the lot. Police found suspected crack in the vehicle.
Blue told District Judge Curtis Thompson during her arraignment Friday morning that she has two children.
All three suspects were placed in Washington County jail on a $25,000 percentage bond awaiting a preliminary hearing set for Jan. 29 before District Judge Gary Havelka.