Court to investigate discrimination against female prostitutes

Thursday, Aug. 23, 2001 | 10:40 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court has agreed to review whether the Clark County district attorney's office discriminates in prosecuting female prostitutes while letting their first-time male customers off easier.

Chief Justice Bill Maupin said an appeal filed by Las Vegas defense lawyer William Terry has "arguable merit" and he directed the district attorney's office to respond within 20 days.

Court records show that 55 cases of misdemeanor charges of prostitution against women have been put on hold while the issue is decided by the Supreme Court.

Terry, who represents Virginia A. Salaiscooper in this test case, says Clark County District Attorney Stewart Bell has a policy where there will be no plea bargain for those arrested for solicitation of sex. These women either plead guilty or go on trial. There can be negotiations on the punishment.

But the male customers, who are arrested for the first time, are given a chance to plea bargain that removes the criminal charge if they attend a one-day counseling session on the dangers of prostitution. The session costs $400.

Justice of the Peace Jennifer Togliatti and District Judge Joseph Bonaventure have both found that the policy of the district attorney's office does not violate either the federal or the state Constitution.

On July 18, Bonaventure issued a 60-day stay of the test case to allow Terry to appeal to the Supreme Court.

The policy says there will be no plea negotiations for sellers of sex. But in the case of first-time buyers of sex, the option is open for attending a counseling session.

Terry says it is unconstitutional to offer counseling to men while denying the option to women. Although the policy talks about "sellers" and "buyers," nearly 100 percent of the "sellers" are women, he contends.