DAMARISCOTTA (WGME) — Eight people are facing charges after a prostitution bust on the Midcoast, but one of the accused Johns says he didn’t do anything illegal.
According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation started in Damariscotta, where the alleged prostitute lives. Investigators said Angel McCracken, 26, posted ads on Craigslist and Back Page.
James Carville said McCracken described herself as an unhappy housewife.
“New in town, not many friends,” Carville said. “She was lonely.”
The Sabattus man said he was feeling lonely himself when he responded to the ad, but didn’t hear back for about a week.
“Through an email she let me know right away that she was a call girl, and I said, ‘Absolutely not. Not interested,'” said Carville.
Still, he said, he kept talking to McCracken through texts and social media. When another week went by, they decided to meet.
“I felt an attraction, but I felt a chemistry more than anything,” said Carville. “It didn’t feel sleazy.”
Carville said he thought they were starting a relationship, but in the days that followed, he could tell something wasn’t quite right.
“I felt guilty and I broke it off based on her being married, not based on any thought or even inclination that she was an actual prostitute,” he said.
It wasn’t until a detective called to question him.
“It all sort of makes sense, and then he told me I was going to be summonsed,” Carville said.
He, and six other men, from all across Maine and Massachusetts, are charged with engaging a prostitute.
When asked if he ever had sex with McCracken in exchange for money, Carville said, “No, and that’s, you know, without a doubt I can say that.”
Police said there’s no indication McCracken, who’s from the Phillipines, was working for or with anyone else. She’s free on bail, but couldn’t be reached for comment, and her attorney didn’t return calls from CBS 13.
“I’m not proud of this,” said Carville. “I’m not proud of commiting adultery. I’m certainly not gonna call myself a John.”
The men are all scheduled to appear in court at the end of the month. Police said the investigation is ongoing and more charges could be filed.
James Carville
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