One of the men facing a gross misdemeanor charge of soliciting prostitution in a public place as a result of a law enforcement operation appeared in court Thursday.
Luke Daniel LaBorde, 32, Crosby, appeared before Judge Earl E. Maus in Crow Wing County District Court. At the hearing, LaBorde was granted a public defender and will be represented by Attorney Gregory B. Davis. Another hearing for LaBorde was scheduled for 9 a.m., Nov. 17.
LaBorde was one of eight men charged in a May sting conducted by Baxter police and other area law enforcement and was one of two men transported to the Crow Wing County Jail the same day.
According to the criminal complaint filed against LaBorde, the 32-year-old allegedly made contact with an undercover officer posing as "Sunny," a fictional woman whose services were advertised in a post made by police on an online classified advertising website. LaBorde arranged for a half-hour of "full service," a term familiar to law enforcement as referring to sexual intercourse.
When LaBorde arrived at the hotel where he believed "Sunny" was waiting, police searched him and located a cellphone matching the number corresponding with the undercover officer, cash, a bouquet of roses, a package of condoms and several beverages. LaBorde acknowledged to police the cellphone number was his.
