Pennsylvania Man Arrested In Maine For Alleged Sex Trafficking

A Pennsylvania man was charged with aggravated sex trafficking after police in Maine investigated a suspected prostitution operation that was being run out of a local hotel.

Dean Pascal, 65, of Ephrata, Pennsylvania is being held on $25,000 cash bail at the Androscoggin County Jail, the Auburn Police Department said in a news release Thursday.

Detectives say they uncovered the operation via Backpage.com, a controversial website that has been accused of enabling prostitution and human trafficking.

Police interviewed the alleged adult victim after making contact with her at a local hotel. Ephrata, according to the release, was arrested by Auburn police based on that interview.

Pascal, a contractor who recently began working in the area, was arrested at his place of employment.

Police said the victim had been brought to Maine from Pennsylvania.