Judge dismisses prostitution charges

SANCHEZ IS OUT OF JAIL ON BOND. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE TRY A CREATIVE NEW WAY TO BUST SUSPECTED PROSTITUTES ... BUT IT BACKFIRES ON THEM. THE VICE UNIT WAS INVESTIGATING A SEX CREW FROM OUT OF STATE THAT CAME TO WORK HERE. BUT WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR THE BUST THEY SENT IN AN INFORMANT INSTEAD OF AN UNDERCOVER COP. CRIS ORNELAS IS HERE WITH WHY THAT’S CAUSING LEGAL PROBLEMS IN TONIGHT'S TOP STORY. CRIS. WHEN THE SIX WOMEN BUSTED IN THE STING WENT BEFORE A JUDGE ON PROSTITUTION CHARGES... THE JUDGE THREW OUT THE CASES. POLICE ARRESTED THESE SIX GIRLS FOR PROSTITUTION BUT THEIR CASES WERE DISMISSED. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE SAY TIMOTHY LEE IS THEIR PIMP AND HE BROUGHT THEM TO THIS MOTEL FROM DENVER. THAT'S WHERE THEY SET UP SHOP IN TWO ROOMS. 00:34- :42 'what he's accused of doing is coming from denver with some women to work in albuquerque because apparently there is more money to be made in albuquerque' POLICE SAY A CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANT ANSWERED THE CRAIGSLIST AD FOR THE VICE UNIT... A NEW TACTIC THEY'RE USING BECAUSE OFTEN PIMPS AND HOOKERS CAN SPOT UNDERCOVER COPS. AND BECAUSE ITS TOUGHER FOR A COP TO MAKE A DEAL TO PAY FOR SEX. 2:37- 2:46 'sometimes they do that because their are fewer restrictions on what a confidential informant can do versus what a law enforcement officer can do'BUT THAT'S WHERE THE LEGAL PROBLEMS STARTED. BECAUSE AN INFORMANT WITNESSED THE DEAL INSTEAD OF A COP... THE JUDGE SAYS THATS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CHARGE THE WOMEN WITH PROSTITUTION. THE ACCUSED PIMP HAS NOW BEEN INDICTED ON CHARGES OF PROMOTING PROSTITUTION AND CHILD ABUSE BECAUSE HE HAD A THREE YEAR OLD RELATIVE WITH HIM.