CHARGES WEIGHED AGAINST MLA IN SEX STING
Allen arrested in U.S. undercover prostitution sting
EDMONTON — U.S. prosecutors expect to decide by Friday whether to lay charges against a Fort McMurray MLA arrested in an undercover prostitution sting in St. Paul, Minn.
City attorney Sara Grewing is still reviewing the case for “possible gross misdemeanour charges,” she said Wednesday.
“Human trafficking and the promotion of prostitution has been something that we’ve focused on. ... (The police) do stings, anecdotally, about once a month. That’s something that we’ve committed our resources to as a policy matter in St. Paul.”
While she couldn’t speak to specific details of Mike Allen’s case, Grewing pointed to a Minnesota statute that prohibits a person from engaging in prostitution or hiring someone for the purposes of prostitution in a public place. Minnesota law defines a public place to include locations such as hotel rooms and massage parlours.
Minnesota officials won’t say if Allen was arrested Monday on a public sidewalk or in a hotel room.
Allen, elected to represent Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo in 2012, resigned from the Tory caucus Tuesday. He had been in Minnesota with Calgary-Fort Conservative MLA Wayne Cao, attending a U.S. lawmakers’ conference.
Allen returned to Alberta late Tuesday.
Duane Bratt, a political scientist at Mount Royal University in Calgary, said Allen’s response has been appropriate. Even if Allen is charged or convicted, Bratt said he doesn’t know if Allen should step down as an MLA.
Alberta’s Wildrose party has called for a byelection to replace Allen. Premier Alison Redford has not commented. Guy Boutilier, who was defeated by Allen in the last election, also wouldn’t comment.
NDP Leader Brian Mason said he found the Allen situation “distasteful,” but he wasn’t prepared to join calls for his resignation.
“We should be thinking a little bit more about the family than simply trying to take political advantage,” Mason said.
Bratt said: “I would argue that drinking and driving is a much more serious offence than prostitution. I think so and I would think most people would think so.”
He compared Allen’s reaction to the incident to that of Gordon Campbell, who was charged and convicted of drunk driving in 2003 when the then B.C. premier was on holiday in Hawaii. He pleaded no contest, didn’t resign from caucus and remained as premier.
“Drinking and driving can lead to death, serious bodily harm, damaging of all sorts of other people,” Bratt said.
“In my view, the most serious aspect of this was it happened while he was supposed to be working,” Bratt said. “And yes, you’re going to have free time, but the comparison with Wayne Cao, who went to a museum, is a bit striking.”
But Allen’s arrest could also be seen as entrapment by police, Bratt said.
Allen allegedly answered an ad placed by undercover police on the website Backpage.com. Police reports show Allen responded to the ad, meeting with two female undercover officers. He was arrested about 8 p.m. local time Monday under suspicion of engaging in prostitution, after allegedly agreeing to exchange money for sexual services, a police spokesman said.
Quito Maggi, who was Allen’s campaign manager in 2012, said he considers Allen a close friend. He said Allen is single with grown children.
“What I can tell you is that Mike is the most honest, genuine and kind person I have ever known,” Maggi said in an email. “I think those traits led him to do the right thing (Tuesday) and immediately resign from the caucus until the legal matter is resolved. I give him credit for that.”
Maggi said Allen’s reputation as a “hard-working and passionate advocate for Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo … won’t be undone by a single mistake.”
But Liberal MLA Laurie Blakeman said she sees soliciting for prostitution as a serious problem.
“I feel betrayed,” Blakeman said. “I think this man made a very deliberate choice in his activities that has betrayed his caucus, betrayed all the MLAs elected, his constituents, his family and all Albertans.”
Depending on the details of the Allen case, he could face a minimum of a $1,500 US fine or a maximum of a year in low-security jail and a $3,000 fine.