Associated Press
UNIONTOWN, Pa. — A jury Thursday convicted a former county commissioner of running a prostitution ring disguised as an escort service out of her rural farmhouse.
Susanne Teslovich, 55, was found guilty of six counts of prostitution and related offenses in connection with her business, First Class Entertainment.
"I do not feel that I did anything wrong," Teslovich said. She could receive up to 20 years in prison and fines of $45,000 when she is sentenced next month.
Prosecutors alleged her business, run out of the farmhouse about 30 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, was a front for a prostitution ring and that she encouraged her employees to seek tips to earn more than the $150 per hour she charged for the escort service.
For three days, jurors heard graphic descriptions of sexual acts from former workers and secretly recorded phone conversations between undercover state troopers and Teslovich.
District Attorney Nancy Vernon told jurors Teslovich was an intelligent woman who took calculated risks and tried to protect herself from prosecution using simple contracts signed by employees, promising they would do nothing illegal while on client calls.
Teslovich testified that she only allowed workers to perform topless massages and strip dances. She said it was her job as the owner of an adult escort service to tease clients and create an atmosphere of fantasy, but not to prostitute women.
Defense attorney Jack Connor said employees initiated sex without Teslovich’s knowledge to make more money.
Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
