83°F
weather icon Mostly Clear

Couple arrested for soliciting prostitution on Craigslist

A social media posting has led to the arrest Monday of a Pahrump man and woman on solicitation and prostitution charges after police responded to a Craigslist ad.

Michael A. Estrella was arrested and charged with violating parole, accepting/receiving earnings of a prostitute, conspiracy to solicit for/engage in prostitution and adult pandering. He was held on $12,500 bond.

Jannette Jordan Robertson was arrested and charged with solicitation/engaging in prostitution and conspiracy to solicit for/engage in prostitution. She was held on $3,640 bond.

Nye County Sheriff’s detectives located the advertisement that led to the arrest in the casual encounters section of the website Craigslist.

According to a sheriff’s arrest report, the advertisement depicted a photo of a young woman who is 18 and looking for a guy, providing sex and was always available.

The ad made reference to the woman, later identified as Robertson, as living in Pahrump.

Authorities made contact with Robertson, who allegedly offered sexual services for $100.

While setting up an appointment to meet at an address along South Linda Street, a detective, according to the report, could overhear a male’s voice in the background telling the woman what to say.

Sheriff’s records identified the man living at the Linda Street address as Estrella, 21, a registered sex offender, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

After responding to the residence, an undercover officer made contact with Robertson, who agreed to have sex in exchange for $100, while another officer made contact with Estrella, who had actually taken the $100 for the arrangement.

Estrella allegedly told officers that the woman was engaging in prostitution.

According to the report, Robertson told detectives that Estrella had no source of income and both worked landscaping, which covers only the rent and utilities of their trailer.

Detectives also said Robertson told them that all of the money Estrella had on his person was from her services as a prostitute, while noting the money that was earned was to go for vehicle repairs and meals.

She reportedly told officers, the decision to solicit sex on the website was a mutual decision she and Estrella made.

The report also stated that Estrella made the ads and handled all of the corresponding emails from individuals looking to purchase sex from the woman because she was “horrible at handling money.”

The cash confiscated from Estrella amounted to $280, $100 of which was the cash used in the undercover operation.

Officers said the money was scanned and printed prior to leaving the Sheriff’s Office.

The money was then matched by the serial numbers on the bills.

Prior to the arrests detectives said the undercover officer met with Estrella and Robertson at an undisclosed location where the officer followed both suspects to their trailer.

The arrest report made sure to note that no sex took place between the undercover officer and Robertson.

Both Estrella and Robertson were transported to the Nye County Detention Center where they were booked into custody.

THE LATEST
GALLERY: Celebrating the lives of lost loved ones

Butterflies are a symbol of transformation and one of the most transformative things a person can experience is the death of someone they love.

Local families invited to Community Baby Shower

Raising a child can be hard. That’s something the members of Pahrump Mothers Corner understand all too well. In an effort to ease the challenges of parenthood, particularly for new and expecting families, this group of local moms banded together to host a Community Baby Shower and the event proved to be very popular, leading to its return for the third year running.

Tonopah to be home to experimental hypersonic testing facility

Ambitious. It’s an apt word to describe Michael Grace’s vision for the future of his company, Longshot Space Technology Corporation, which, if all goes to plan, will build what he calls the world’s largest potato gun.

Pahrump man arrested for elder abuse

A Pahrump man wanted by the Nye County Sheriff’s Office on suspicion of elder abuse was arrested while attempting to purchase multiple vehicles at a Las Vegas car dealership, according to authorities.

Nye sheriff explains why you shouldn’t flee from the law

A man suspected of driving a stolen vehicle out of Las Vegas led Nye County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a high-speed pursuit into Pahrump on Monday morning, April 15.

Amargosa veterans honored with their own Quilts of Valor ceremony

The Nye County Valor Quilters are on a mission — to cover local veterans in the comfort of healing Quilts of Valor to honor the service and sacrifices they’ve made in the name of freedom – and now, these talented artists have started to expand their reach outside of the Pahrump Valley.

Vehicle in garage destroyed by fire

No serious injuries were reported after fire gutted a vehicle inside the garage of a home along the 2400 block of Zuni Avenue on Wednesday, April 10.

Need a good laugh? Join in a night of hilarious scholarship fundraising

Promising a “laugh-your-ass-off” night of hilarity and musical diversion, Sanders Family Winery is all set to host the Kiwanis Club of the Pahrump Valley Scholarship Fundraiser and its sure to be an amusing time for all involved.

$6.2M allocated to 10 projects

Nye County has earmarked about $6.2 million of its $12 million in Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF) grant dollars for a total of 10 projects throughout the county.