Human trafficking sting nets 14 arrests

Councilman says he’s not stepping down

Elyria police, in a joint effort with the Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office, Cuyahoga County Regional Human Trafficking Task Force and Ohio Attorney General’s office, arrested 11 Lorain county men, including an Elyria councilman, on charges of soliciting sex during a two-day operation the week of Sept. 27, according to a news release from the Elyria Police Department.

Elyria Ward 3 Councilman Mark N. Jessie, 64, who has served on the Council for eight years, said, “I’ve been better,” when asked by The Morning Journal about the incident.

When asked about being arrested in an apparent sting operation, Jessie responded: “That bothers me. That those words are used in terms of what happened to me.”

He then said, “I’m really going to say no comment, because there is really a lot I’d like to say. I’ll leave it at that.”

Jessie also said he has no plans to resign his council seat.

He is up for re-election Nov. 2. Jessie’s opponent, Maurice Corbin III, said very little of the situation.

“It’s too bad,” Corbin said before declining further comment.

Elyria police spokesman Capt. William Pelko said his department was one of many statewide participating in the collaborative effort dubbed Operation Ohio Knows.

“I believe there were like 100 other law enforcement agencies and prosecutor’s offices that did similar investigations throughout the state of Ohio,” Pelko said.

In total, 14 men were arrested for solicitation in connection with the Elyria human trafficking operation.

Two of the 14 men — three from other counties — arrested also were charged with improper handling of a weapon in a motor vehicle after a pair of guns were recovered from the cars they drove to meet up for the alleged sexual encounter.

In addition, six female human trafficking victims were encountered.

“We had them talk to victim advocates and gave them some resources they could reach out to get some help if needed,” Pelko said.

Police used the Internet in the operation, he said.

“There are websites that we used to contact these people or they contacted us through them,” he said. “So, we either set up an account portraying that we were for hire for sexual activity, or responded to their ads saying they want to hire somebody for sexual activity.”

Nabbing a local politician was not what police were expecting, Pelko said.

“We were surprised that it was him,” he said. “But I’m going to be honest with you, in my line of work, nothing shocks or surprises me anymore.

“It’s unfortunate it was one of our councilmen. But, I hope he can get the help he needs for this.”

In total, 22 enforcement personnel were used in executing the Elyria operation.

That number included 11 Elyria police officers, five members of the Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office, and seven from the human trafficking task force.

“People are breaking the law. People are out soliciting sexual activity, which is breaking the law,” Pelko said.

Those arrested from Lorain County are: David F. Emmot, 59, Elyria; Herbert M. Hagwood, 45, Lorain; Kenneth E. Cain, 73, Elyria; Maurice Donte Woods Bonner, 26, Grafton; Dominic Scarpelli, 43, Amherst; Guy L. Sapienza Jr., 32, Amherst; Vincente Criado Watanabe, 51, Elyria; Michael D. Painter, 52, Avon; Ronald J. Kuebel, 73, Lorain; and Joel D. Hill, 33, Wellington.

Bonner and Haggard both were charged with improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle.

“People are breaking the law. People are out soliciting sexual activity, which is breaking the law.” — Elyria police spokesman Capt. William Pelko