14 nabbed in Acre neighborhood prostitution sting

Haverhill

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March 9, 2010

By Paul Tennant

HAVERHILL — A majority of the 14 men arrested Sunday in a prostitution sting agreed yesterday to accept the state's offer of paying $400 in restitution to the city in return for having the charges dismissed.

Thirteen of the men were arraigned in Haverhill District Court. One defendant failed to appear for the arraignment.

The men, ranging in age from 19 to 74, were arrested Sunday afternoon in the city's Acre neighborhood.

Capt. Alan Ratte, head of detectives who directed the sting, said female officers posed as prostitutes at various locations, including Vine, Welcome and Winter streets. When the men propositioned them, offering $30 or so, the undercover officers signaled detectives, who made the arrests, Ratte said.

Acre residents have complained for years about illegal drug activity and prostitution in their neighborhood. Ratte said the sting was carried out to "improve the quality of life in the area."

Asked if the warmer weather will bring about more such law enforcement action, Ratte said, "Absolutely."

"We are going to aggressively attack the problem," he said.

The first arrest took place at 12:50 p.m. on Welcome Street, where police took Jose Cordero, 35, of 127 How St., into custody.

When Cordero was arraigned yesterday, Judge Stephen Abany ordered him held on $300 cash bail. Cordero has a prior criminal record.

The arrests continued until around 7 p.m. One of the last men arrested, Gilbert Murphy, 43, of 170 Main St., was arrested at William and White streets at 6:28 p.m. Murphy failed to appear in court yesterday and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Telemachus Kemos, 74, of 60 Mill Pond Road, North Andover, was arrested on the same charge in September. Abany continued his case until March 22. Abany warned Kemos, who was arrested at William and White streets at 5:31 p.m., that he could face going to jail on this second offense.

Paul Brennick, 24, of 9 Grand Ave., had his case continued until April 5.

The men who agreed to pay the $400 restitution were: Jeffery Meitler, 48, of 196 Summer St., arrested at Vine and Winter streets at 1:33 p.m.; Brian Goodwin, 31, of 15 Grove St., Vine and Dustin streets at 2:02 p.m.; Promise Tshuma, 49, of 20 Bay Road, Penacook, N.H., Vine and Pentucket streets at 3:40 p.m.; Kenneth McAdams, 60, of 104 Webster St., Vine and White streets at 3:52 p.m.; Ivan Ortiz, 29, of 12 Charles St., White and Winter streets at 4 p.m.; Christopher Ross, 30, no address given, White and Winter streets at 4 p.m.; Joseph Martin, 19, of 3 Uptack Ave., Groveland, White Street at 6:18 p.m.; Michael Trainor, 66, of 98 Webster St., Dustin and White streets at 6:48 p.m.; Timothy Fleming, 45, of 78 Howe St., Methuen, Vine and Winter streets at 6:51 p.m.; and Kurt Chandler, 52, of 40 Thurlow St., Georgetown, White Street at 7 p.m.