Township trustee arrested in area prostitution sting

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WAUSEON -- A prostitution investigation conducted by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office here has resulted in the arrest of 10 persons, including a Defiance County township trustee.

The sting last week reportedly involved an informant who posted an ad on an Internet website (craigslist.org), claiming to be a prostitute. The website allows the posting of classified ads across the world based on location.

Ten persons reportedly showed up at a location near Wauseon.

Allegedly among them was Rick Hall, 53, 20329 Beerbower Road, a Tiffin Township trustee. He was charged with soliciting, a third-degree misdemeanor.

Also arrested were James Cole, 29, Lyons; Curtis Cottrell, 35, Holland; Carrol Eaton, 50, Waldron, Mich.; Ryan Gallagher, 30, Perrysburg; Robert Hadley, 65, Sylvania; Kevin Korn, 37, Toledo; Paul Onweller, 43, Swanton; Todd Stricklen, 36, Oregon; and Joseph Preventowski, 51, Temperance, Mich.

Hall appeared in Fulton County's Western District Court, Wauseon, and entered a not guilty plea to the charge through his attorney, Alan Lehenbauer of Swanton. The case was scheduled for a pretrial hearing at 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 5 and Hall was given a personal-recognizance bond.

According to court sources, Cole, Cottrell, Eaton, Gallagher, Korn, Onweller, Stricklen and Preventowski also entered not guilty pleas, and their cases were scheduled for pretrial hearings. Hadley's case was continued for arraignment later this month.

Attempts to receive further details about the cases were unsuccessful this morning.

A message left with Sheriff Darrell Merillat's office was not returned before press time today.