Police bust prostitution ring

AIKEN - Six people were charged with prostitution in an investigation of a call-girl ring operating in the Augusta-Aiken area, authorities said Monday.

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Among those arrested was the former owner of an Augusta escort service who has faced prostitution-related charges twice before.

Richard Beatty, 37, of Clearwater, was arrested Saturday at a restaurant off Interstate 20 in Aiken County, as was Sandy Frashuer, 31, of Belvedere, Aiken sheriff's spokesman Lt. Michael Frank said Monday.

Lt. Frank said the two were waiting to meet up with prostitutes to split proceeds from a night's work. But the prostitutes met up with a pair of "customers" at an Aiken-area hotel who were actually undercover investigators, Lt. Frank said.

"The prostitutes came to the hotel room, and once the transaction was established, they were arrested," Lt. Frank said.

Lt. Frank would not identify the hotel, saying it was in no way involved in the alleged crime. He also would not say whether officers employed any surveillance equipment in the sting.

The women were charging $175 an hour for their services, Lt. Frank said.

Arrested at the hotel were Michael S. Clark, 35, of Hephzibah, who authorities say drove the women to their meeting place; Candi Pon, 27, of Martinez; Glenn Haynie, 41, of Augusta, who authorities say was another escort for the women; and Lisa Lambert, 28, of Augusta. All were charged with prostitution, Lt. Frank said.

Mr. Beatty is the former owner of Augusta Escort Service and has faced charges in Augusta of pandering and failing to appear in court.

Reach Stephen Gurr at (803) 648-1394.

--From the Tuesday, July 1, 2003 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle