LEWISTON — A Pennsylvania man accused of posting ads promoting his girlfriend’s sexual services denied related charges Wednesday.
Dean Pascal, 65, of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, appeared in 8th District Court where he pleaded not guilty to aggravated sex trafficking, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and sex trafficking, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum punishment of 364 days in jail.
He remains free on bail on the condition that he have no contact with his alleged victim and not stay at overnight public accommodations with any unrelated female.
Police said Pascal posted 1,210 ads across five states promoting SexySeaBeauty on Backpage.com since the spring of 2016. The 47-year-old woman featured in the ad told police she owed Pascal about $100,000 and felt obligated to pay him back by working as a prostitute.
A local police detective went to a Turner Street hotel in May posing as a client. He and two other detectives were directed to a room where the woman featured in the ad confessed to them she had been providing sex acts for money, police wrote in an affidavit filed in court.
cwilliams@sunjournal.com
Dean Pascal
Dean Pascal
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