Posted on 12/17/2009 6:55:17 AM PST by End Times Sentinel
Susan Finkelstein sat down with undercover Officer Michael Brady at a Bucks County bar and allegedly gave him a bold confession for a first meeting, according to his testimony yesterday at her preliminary hearing.
"I admit it. I'm a prostitute. I love sex. I'm a whore," the Bensalem police officer testified that Finkelstein had told him as he posed as "Bob" at Manny Brown's in Bensalem.
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The Southwest Philadelphia woman believed Brady had three tickets to a Phillies-Yankees World Series game and, Bensalem police say, was willing to exchange sex for at least one.
In reality, it was a sting operation by Bensalem cops, who had found the "desperate blonde," as Finkelstein reportedly called herself, while trolling Craigslist for illegal activities.
Finkelstein, 43, was also told in an e-mail written by Sgt. Robert Bugsch that "Bob" had a brother, Bugsch said on the stand. That apparently upped the possibilities for Finkelstein.
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Brady's and Bugsch's testimony - along with the introduction of topless photos as evidence, images Finkelstein purportedly sent to Bugsch before the meeting - was apparently enough for Falcone. He held the case over for trial in Common Pleas Court, set to begin Jan. 5 in Doylestown.
She was charged with promoting prostitution and, yesterday, with general prostitution.
Brennan suggested he may appeal the ruling, claiming that Falcone's decision was based on "unsubstantiated, unrecorded testimony of one officer," he said, referring mainly to Brady's testimony.
Finkelstein, a woman with a self-avowed "big mouth," spoke with the swarm of media after the hearing, despite Brennan's assurances that she would not comment on the proceedings.
"It was very hard to hear the untruths that were said about me and my actions without being able to respond," she said in a soft, melodic voice. Later, she said, "It is not in my vocabulary to use those words."
Earlier, when Brady used the term "whore" in court, Finkelstein let out a sigh of disbelief.
After the hearing, Brennan wondered aloud why Bensalem police didn't record the conversation or why three other police at the bar weren't close enough to listen in on the conversation.
Regarding the topless photos, Brennan said, the police officers admitted that sending them was not illegal.
"She's here charged with a crime," he said. "The crime isn't bad taste. The crime is prostitution."
A grad student at U of P, she has no morality, and commits disgraceful acts, and when she's caught, she blames others.
How proud her husband and children must be.
So, let's charge this woman without any evidence; we'll just take the word of this one Cop, acting alone, without any recordings, without any witnesses as just plain "Good Enough" and then we'll press charges against this young lady that will follow her the rest of her life. .... < /sarcasm>
No evidence, no crime.
An honest politician, what a rarity!
“The Southwest Philadelphia woman believed Brady had three tickets to a Phillies-Yankees World Series game and, Bensalem police say, was willing to exchange sex for at least one.”
Sex always was and always will be an “exchange”. Both parties always want something... It’s unusual for it to be baseball tickets, but it’s always something.
Judging from the photo, hubby is a Sugar Daddy. She probably got him on Craigslist also.
>> No evidence, no crime.
Testimony is evidence ...
SnakeDoc
“DESPERATE BLONDE NEEDS WS TIX (Philadelphia):” “Diehard Phillies fan — gorgeous tall buxom blonde — in desperate need of two World Series tickets. Price negotiable — I’m the creative type! Maybe we can help each other!”
The topless pictures she sent detectives also lends credence to the testimony of the officer.
I'm finding it difficult to imagine an alternative scenario.
Unsubstanciated evidence is not evidence.
He said, she said ...
Using that ‘burden of proof’ gives the Police power to make up any story they want. Would you want to go to jail, have a sex crime added to your permanent history based upon nothing more than the word of a policeman? Look at the cop wrong, drive the wrong make of car, root for the wrong team - and you too could be charged with prostitution, assault, indecent exposure or any host of crimes.
Hell, why even bother with a court system? We’ll just have the cops assign whatever crime they want, whenever they want, against whomever they want.
Is she guilty? Possibly.
What incompetence on behalf of the policeman!! This is like turning off the video camera and the speedgun and then passing speeding tickets out. No recording, no backup, no collaborating police team?!?
Here’s what I believe happened.
The cop was out on his own, if the woman was hot; he’d have screwed her and no one would be the wiser. When she asked for the tickets, he’s toss his badge on the table and threaten her. Quick, easy piece - some would call that a job perk.
For whatever reason, when he saw her; he wasn’t interested in sex. Maybe he got some at home, or he wasn’t in the mood, or she wasn’t as attractive in person.
What other POSSIBLE reason would a policeman have to go out on a private sting operation? Hmmm, no video, no audio, no witness, no one in the office knew he was there. I have a problem with that.
I think the cop is a liar, he took too many incompetent steps to be anything other than dirty. I’d fire him for imcompetence if nothing else. He placed himself in a position where he endangered his life, without alerting or involving the policeforce as to his private activities.
Why didn’t he just go off on his own and negotiate a drug deal? This case smells to high heavens.
Prostitution rarely leaves evidence other than testimony of the involved parties. If the testimony of an undercover officer is to be universally disregarded — it would leave an unprosecutable crime.
As with all witnesses, the jury can weigh whether or not to accept the officer’s testimony as truth. If they think he is making it up, they can choose to disregard his testimony. But, his testimony is evidence, and thus can be weighed by a jury.
SnakeDoc
But the defendant is ASSUMED innocent until proven guilty. For evidence, I require more than the mere word of any any human, cop, lawyer, thug or man on the street. I want evidence. Why wasn't this cop wearing a wire? Heck, even my lousy cell phone can record a conversation. No audio, no video, no observing policemen in the bar - nothing.
Maybe it should be an unprosecutable crime. I would imagine that there are serious crimes out there that the police should be working instead of wasting their time on a victimless crime.
Whole-heartedly agree. My issue is with the police department and DA. I raised some very basic questions, and if I were her lawyer I would raise the same questions. No recordings? A cop working entirely alone? No backup? This reeks of a cop out cruising for an easy piece.
Just think, if dinner were included in the deal, no crime would have taken place.
My issue is that whatever minimal level we use against her, can be used against us. She has her picture published, has been called a whore, slut and prostitute - and she hasn't even been tried yet.
Thank God! The streets of Philly are now safe from ruthless chicks who would have sex with me in exchange for World Series tickets that I don’t have. Whew!
>> Maybe it should be an unprosecutable crime. I would imagine that there are serious crimes out there that the police should be working instead of wasting their time on a victimless crime.
Maybe so — but, that isn’t for the DA or the Cops to decide. The law is the law, and their job is to arrest and prosecute those that break it. If the law should be changed, then the legislature will have to change it.
Fundamentally, I see your point on legalization. What business is it of mine (or the governments) if a couple wants to exchange sex for cash (or whatever)? No harm, no foul. On the other hand, the law is what it is — and actively legalizing prostitution is tantamount to an endorsement, which I am not in favor of.
SnakeDoc
I’m a resident of the Township and I’d rather our police do other things than luring 40-something prostitutes from Philly for busts. Puh-leeeez.
Maybe she was trying to get the tickets as a Christmas present for her hubby.
The cop was out on his own, if the woman was hot; he’d have screwed her and no one would be the wiser. When she asked for the tickets, he’s toss his badge on the table and threaten her. Quick, easy piece - some would call that a job perk.
For whatever reason, when he saw her; he wasn’t interested in sex. Maybe he got some at home, or he wasn’t in the mood, or she wasn’t as attractive in person.
What other POSSIBLE reason would a policeman have to go out on a private sting operation? Hmmm, no video, no audio, no witness, no one in the office knew he was there. I have a problem with that.
I think the cop is a liar, he took too many incompetent steps to be anything other than dirty. I’d fire him for imcompetence if nothing else. He placed himself in a position where he endangered his life, without alerting or involving the policeforce as to his private activities.
Why didn’t he just go off on his own and negotiate a drug deal? This case smells to high heavens.
Now knowing this aspect: three other police at the bar do you still think your scenario is likely? Even in your scenario, she was still guilty of promoting prostitution and probably prostitution.
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