Police Release 21 Names in Maine Zumba Sex Case
Police Release 21 Names in Maine Zumba Sex Case - SFGate
Police on Monday released the first round of names of more than 100 men they say paid for sex with a Zumba instructor who’s charged with turning her dance studio into a brothel in this seaside community.
The release of 21 names followed 11th-hour legal wrangling, and some residents watched the news flash on their local evening TV news.
Kim Ackley, a local real estate agent, said that disclosure of the names of the people accused of being prostitution clients will cause temporary pain for families but it’s only fair because others who are accused of embarrassing crimes don’t get breaks.
“What’s fair for one has to be fair for the other,” said Ackley, who knows several people on the list. “The door can’t swing just one way.”
Residents had been anxiously awaiting the release of names for weeks since 29-year-old Alexis Wright was charged with engaging in prostitution in her dance studio and in an office she rented across the street. Wright, from nearby Wells, has pleaded not guilty to 106 counts of prostitution, invasion of privacy and other charges. Her business partner faces 59 misdemeanor counts.
Police said more than 150 people are suspected of being clients and many of them were videotaped without their knowledge.