HARVEYS LAKE — A woman was arrested on prostitution charges Thursday after her landlord tipped off police.
Police say Virginia Marie Elkins, 30, of Lakeside Drive, was using a website to place ads online offering for sex in exchange for money.
According to the criminal complaint:
Borough police were tipped off to Elkins’ activities on May 9 by Elkins’ landlord. The landlord told police she had received several complaints of traffic “in and out of her rental property at all hours of the day and night.”
Over the next two days, police made traffic stops of people leaving the residence. In one stop, 11 bags of heroin were recovered. In another stop, the driver of the vehicle admitted to paying for sex with someone named “Scarlet” after responding to an ad on Backpage.com.
Police then conducted a search of the website and found “Scarlett,” who was later identified as Elkins.
On May 12, Harveys Lake police Chief Charles Musial observed a male enter and leave the residence. When questioned about the residence the man become incredibly nervous.
He told Musial he was looking for a woman he met on Backpage.com, then admitted he met the same woman on May 9 and paid for sexual favors.
He was taken to the police station where he said he paid “Scarlett” $50 for sex.
Police then contacted Elkins on May 19 on the department phone and discussed prices and rates. Elkins then texted the department phone “a few hours later” asking if they were interested. The conversation included how long the meeting would be and if anything needed to be brought.
“Condoms please and yourself,” she replied. Elkins and an undercover officer arranged to meet at 8:30 p.m May 20 for sex in exchange for $180.
During the meeting between Elkins and the undercover officer, they agreed to exchange $180 for both oral and vaginal sex. The officer also saw syringes indicative to heroin use and multiple wax baggies used to package and distribute heroin.
Police arrested Elkins. She then told police she had full bags of heroin inside her home and “countless items” of paraphernalia, which she would give voluntarily to officers. Police seized three stamped heroin bags containing suspected heroin, a flowered notebook with names and prices, one cellphone with numerous names listed and the $180 in buy money.
Elkins was charged with misdemeanor counts of prostitution, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. There no preliminary arraignment or hearing date set by press time.
