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More on Att'y Maag and the Granite City IL CraigsList sting...

chitownlawyer

Florida

From today's Belleville (IL) News-Democrat:

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Granite City Police: Erotic online ad netted Madison County lawyer in sting
BY BETH HUNDSDORFER
News-Democrat

It wasn't in a seedy alley where police said Madison County lawyer Thomas Maag went looking for a prostitute, but an on-line classified site.

Granite City police placed an erotic services ad on Web site "Craig's List," and they claimed Maag contacted Detective Lori Perkins to perform sex for a half-hour for a fee of $100.

"We've done this more than once," Assistant Police Chief Jeff Connor said. "It's not a new thing. We've done prostitution stings for years. The Internet is just another tool we use in law enforcement."

Maag called the number listed on the ad, police said, used the name "Brad" and agreed to pay $150 for a "GFE" or "girlfriend experience" -- when a prostitute kisses and cuddles her client and gives him intimacy like a girlfriend, according to UrbanDictionary.com.

Maag, who is the son of former Illinois Supreme Court candidate Gordon Maag, arrived at the "sting house" at 9:31 p.m. Nov. 2. Police handcuffed him and put him on the ground, according to pleadings filed by his defense counsel, Clyde Kuehn, then searched his car and seized unspecified items.

"It's a poor allocation of police time," said Leonard Gross, law professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. "Luring people out to commit what most people consider to be a 'victimless crime.' It's just dumb."

It's not just prostitution police are targeting, Connor said, but other crimes that come with it, such as drug possession and battery. He declined to elaborate on the program, but did say other metro-east communities also conduct stings.

There are hundreds of advertisements for erotic services on the St. Louis Craigslist from men and women, offering everything from erotic massage to various sex acts listed with prices. Some have pictures. Some state specifically they are not "L.E." or law enforcement.

Kuehn, who could not be reached for comment, stated Maag's arrest should be quashed because police had no probable cause to make the arrest, and he pointed to discrepancies within in the arrest complaint.

Madison County Associate Judge Stephen Stobbs denied Kuehn's arguments.

Kuehn did not file any documents claiming police entrapment.

"It's a tough case to make entrapment," said Jamie Carey, law professor at Loyola University. "Entrapment can only be made when the government does more than just afford the person the opportunity to commit the crime."

Bill Schroeder, a law professor at Southern Illinois University Law School, who also provided indirect advice to Maag's lawyers, agreed.

"You have to show you were induced to commit the crime and you were not already predisposed to commit the crime," Schroeder said. "The crime itself knocks down the defense. If you weren't predisposed to do the crime, you wouldn't do it."

Maag, 32, of Highland, may also face discipline from the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.

"By rule, any conviction is referred to inquiry board, which is like a sort of grand jury, who decides whether or not the attorney should face any discipline," said Peter Rotskoff, ARDC's litigation manager. "There have been discipline issued for misdemeanors, but it's done on a case-by case basis."

Maag is scheduled to go to trial June 16. If convicted, he faces up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine.

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