LAWRENCE — Manchester, N.H., sportswriter Kevin Provencher allegedly ran a prostitution ring out of the SpringHill Suites hotel in Andover, according to a state prosecutor.
Provencher, 50, was arraigned today in Lawrence District Court on two counts of deriving support from a prostitute. His bail was set at $10,000.
Assistant Essex County District Attorney Michelle Defeo said Provencher was the "ring leader" of the Andover-based prostitution business.
Provencher allegedly contacted women to work for him on the Web sites craigslist.org and cityvibe.com, according to Defeo.
He would rent rooms at the Minuteman Road hotel, where the women would meet men and have sex with them for either $150 for a half hour or $240 for one hour of service, Defeo said.
Andover police began investigating Provencher in February.
He was arrested at his 153 Donald St. home in Manchester this morning.
Manchester police also executed a search warrant at the home.
If convicted, Provencher faces five years in state prison.
Provencher has worked at the New Hampshire Union Leader for 22 years, according to his attorney, Jessica Thrall. He is married and lives with his wife and brother.
He also has two teenage children, Thrall said.
Provencher is due back in court Aug. 26.
