MLA officially charged in Minnesota ‘john sweep’
EDMONTON— Minnesota police have officially laid a prostitution charge against Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLA Mike Allen, alleging he took a limousine to a motel intending to pay $200 for sexual intercourse with two women.
According to Minnesota court Statement of Probable Cause, Allen, 51, was caught up in a “john sweep” in St. Paul, where a female officer posing as a prostitute placed an advertisement in the “Erotic Services” section of the website www.backpage.com.
The document says Allen called the officer at about 7:30 p.m. on Monday and “asked to schedule an appointment,” then questioned the officer on “the various costs, the amounts of time, and the numbers of available women.”
The document says Allen took a limousine to the officer’s motel, and went to her room. He allegedly agreed to pay $200 for sex with two women for one hour, with a condom. The Statement of Probable Cause said Allen put the cash on the counter and began to undress.
He was arrested after the undercover officer signalled for other police officers to enter the room.
Allen faces one charge of prostitution, a gross misdemeanour that carries a punishment of up to one year in jail and a maximum $3,000 fine.
Allen released a brief statement from his Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo constituency office Friday, saying he had heard about the charges through media reports. He said he is waiting to receive the legal documents so he can review them with his lawyer and “determine a course of action” by the end of next week.
“I will, of course, comply with all requests made by the state,” Allen said in the statement. “I would like to reiterate my apology to my family, my friends, my constituents, my colleagues, my staff, and to all Albertans for the embarrassment I have caused. I accept full responsibility for my actions.”
St. Paul city attorney Sara Grewing said the cases are most often resolved through plea deals. While every case is different, she said people who make a plea early in the process usually get time served and a fine.