AUBURN — A judge issued an arrest warrant for a Lewiston woman after she failed to attend her sentencing hearing on a sex trafficking charge Friday.
Tina Lagasse, 52, of 527 Main St. was scheduled to appear in Androscoggin County Superior Court on Friday afternoon, but after waiting half an hour, Active-Retired Judge Joyce Wheeler issued a warrant for her arrest.
Her attorney, Paul Corey, told the judge he contacted Lagasse by phone Friday and she texted him that she apparently had been confused about whether she was supposed to be in court Friday.
The judge set bail for Lagasse, who had been free on her own recognizance, at $1,000 cash. She must pay the bail herself, the judge said. She must not contact two witnesses in the case.
The case stems from an internet advertisement for prostitution that was noticed by an Auburn police detective last summer. The image showed Lagasse with a young woman who was later identified as a former Auburn high school student.
Lagasse pleaded guilty to the charge and faces up to 364 days in jail.
Tina Lagasse (Androscoggin County Jail)
Attorney Paul Corey explains to Active-Retired Judge Joyce Wheeler on Friday that his client, Tina Lagasse, failed to show up for her sentencing hearing in Androscoggin County Superior Court. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)
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