Rochester Man Arrested On Unlawful Propositioning Charge

October 27, 2020 at 3:00 a.m.

By Amanda Bridgman-

A Rochester man recently was arrested after allegedly propositioning a woman for sex.

John E. Roberts, 43, was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail at 4:09 a.m. Oct. 11 and faces a Class A misdemeanor charge for patronizing a prostitute, unlawful proposition; and a Class B misdemeanor for public intoxication.

According to the police report filed Oct. 20 in Kosciusko Superior Court II, at 3:08 a.m. Oct. 11, Warsaw police responded to the Warsaw Lodge in reference to an unwanted subject. As police were en route, according to the affidavit, Central Dispatch informed them to check the notes on the call, which said a white man with a gray hat and a flannel shirt “approached the clerk at the hotel with a wad of cash and asked for (oral sex).”

Upon arrival, police observed a man, identified as Roberts, matching the description and explained why they were there.

Roberts denied asking the clerk for any sexual favors and when police asked him how much money he had on him, he said, “not much.” Roberts also told police he and his girlfriend were staying in room 113.

Roberts consented for police to do a weapons pat down, and during the pat down police located a large wad of cash. When police told Roberts that the front desk clerk told them Roberts had approached her and whipped out a wad of cash asking for sexual favors, Roberts replied, “I don’t think so man,” and that he just came out to get a candy bar.

While Roberts was speaking with police, his speech was slurred and he seemed lethargic, according to the affidavit.

When police spoke to the clerk, she said Roberts came up to her, asked her if she would do him a favor, pulled out a wad of cash and asked her for sexual favors for $100 or $200 and that they could keep it a secret. When the women told Roberts no, Roberts tried to get closer and she continued to back away and shake her head, according to video surveillance footage reviewed by police.

Roberts’ bond was set at $600.

A Rochester man recently was arrested after allegedly propositioning a woman for sex.

John E. Roberts, 43, was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail at 4:09 a.m. Oct. 11 and faces a Class A misdemeanor charge for patronizing a prostitute, unlawful proposition; and a Class B misdemeanor for public intoxication.

According to the police report filed Oct. 20 in Kosciusko Superior Court II, at 3:08 a.m. Oct. 11, Warsaw police responded to the Warsaw Lodge in reference to an unwanted subject. As police were en route, according to the affidavit, Central Dispatch informed them to check the notes on the call, which said a white man with a gray hat and a flannel shirt “approached the clerk at the hotel with a wad of cash and asked for (oral sex).”

Upon arrival, police observed a man, identified as Roberts, matching the description and explained why they were there.

Roberts denied asking the clerk for any sexual favors and when police asked him how much money he had on him, he said, “not much.” Roberts also told police he and his girlfriend were staying in room 113.

Roberts consented for police to do a weapons pat down, and during the pat down police located a large wad of cash. When police told Roberts that the front desk clerk told them Roberts had approached her and whipped out a wad of cash asking for sexual favors, Roberts replied, “I don’t think so man,” and that he just came out to get a candy bar.

While Roberts was speaking with police, his speech was slurred and he seemed lethargic, according to the affidavit.

When police spoke to the clerk, she said Roberts came up to her, asked her if she would do him a favor, pulled out a wad of cash and asked her for sexual favors for $100 or $200 and that they could keep it a secret. When the women told Roberts no, Roberts tried to get closer and she continued to back away and shake her head, according to video surveillance footage reviewed by police.

Roberts’ bond was set at $600.
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