Possumblog

Road to Hell Paving Department, Miss America Division UPDATED

Good intentions and all, but this doesn't look as though it will turn out the way everyone thought it would: Sex stings imperiled by Miss America

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. (AP) — An undercover sex sting that used Miss America as bait may be in trouble after the beauty queen told prosecutors that she does not plan to testify against the men she helped arrest.

Lauren Nelson, 20, of Lawton, Okla., worked with police in Suffolk County to target would-be Internet sexual predators, taped for an episode of the TV show "America's Most Wanted."

She posed as a teenager and lured men into chatting online and meeting her at a home, where police and crews were waiting. Eleven men were arrested in the sting.

But one or all of the cases against the men could be in jeopardy after Nelson told prosecutors she did not plan on returning to Long Island to testify, said Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota in Newsday's Tuesday edition.

"Her agents have told us that she's not coming back to testify," Spota said. The Miss America Organization did not return calls for comment Monday from a Newsday reporter.

Given that Nelson actually spoke with at least one of the men arrested during the operation, Spota said he had instructed prosecutors not to present any more cases to the grand jury until they can "determine her involvement." One case already presented may falter, he said. [...]

Someone should have thought about this ahead of time. And for whatever good America's Most Wanted might do in tracking down criminals, PR stunts like this don't do anyone any good.

UPDATE: 3:10 p.m. Well, good--Miss America to testify in sex sting

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. (AP) — An undercover sex sting that used Miss America as bait appeared to be in trouble until the beauty queen said Tuesday she changed her mind and agreed to testify against the men she helped arrest. [...]

[...] On Tuesday, the Miss America Organization said Nelson is "fully cooperating with the law enforcement officials." Spokeswoman Sharon Pearce said that included the district attorney's office. [...]

Odd that this would come from the Miss America organization and not her agent or spokesperson, but I hope she does see the importance of carrying through with what she started.

Posted by Terry Oglesby at May 1, 2007 09:17 AM