Pennsylvania pastor paid for sex acts at massage parlor shut over trafficking at least 68 times, say cops - The Mirror US

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A Cumberland County pastor is under investigation for allegedly paying for sex acts after he visited a massage parlor in Pennsylvania that was recently shut down after it was accused of trafficking humans. Stephen R. Melton was charged with at least two offenses after police claimed that the pastor paid for the sexual acts at least 68 times.

According to the Big Spring Presbyterian Church, Melton has been a priest since October 31, 2022. The investigation began when two massage parlors in Carlisle — Li’s Asian Massage and GL Massage — were shut down as a part of a nationwide crackdown in combatting human trafficking, reported Penn Live.

According to the county district attorney’s office, they managed to arrest 19 people who had visited the parlors last month, however, at that time, Melton was not part of the people announced. According to investigators, they started watching Melton and several other men arrive at the one parlor several times.

A Cumberland County pastor is under investigation after he allegedly paid for sex acts after he visited a massage parlor in Pennsylvania that was recently shut down after it was accused of trafficking humans. ( WGAL)

Police stated that they were more inclined to watch Melton as he would often leave with one of the workers in his passenger seat. On one occasion, Detectives even saw Melton take off his wedding ring and slip it into his back pocket while walking up to the business.

On October 22, local police executed a search warrant and were told by the woman that she would accept money to perform sexual acts on various customers, including Melton. The affidavit also stated that she gave police the names of her clients.

According to the county district attorney’s office, they managed to arrest 19 people who had visited the parlors last month, however, at that time, Melton was not part of the people announced ( WGAL)

During a police interview earlier this month, Melton admitted to paying for various sex acts, including intercourse, from a woman he knew as "Cicci." According to the affidavit, he was unable to provide police with the exact number of times that he and the woman engaged in the activity as it happened so often.

According to the man, he agreed that the women who worked at the shop could be victims of human trafficking and even attempted to ask them about it. Melton said that he suspected the women lived at the business.

Melton admitted to paying for various sex acts, including intercourse, from a woman he knew as "Cicci." ( WGAL)

The man said he would try to help by “dropping off flowers, food and clothing.” He was later released on $10,000 unsecured bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 15. It was also reported that three women who worked at the business were also arrested and charged as a result of the searches.

One of the women, who was identified as Chuanxia Wang, was charged with felony counts of running a corrupt organization, human trafficking and promoting prostitution. It is unclear when she will return to court.

Dong Mei Liu, 55, and Yue Jun Zhao, 62, who waived their right to a preliminary hearing, were arraigned on single misdemeanor counts of prostitution. It was reported by the outlet that both Liu and Zhao waived their rights in the hopes of joining a diversity program that would see their charges dismissed.

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