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Robert F. Bukaty / AP file
Mark Strong Sr., seen in January in Portland, Maine.
ALFRED, Maine -- Prosecutors have shown jurors videos demonstrating that an insurance agent was familiar with paid sex acts involving his mistress, but a defense lawyer said it doesn't prove that the man promoted prostitution.
The jury in the trial of Mark Strong Sr. watched a 45-minute video Thursday showing a sexual encounter between Zumba fitness instructor Alexis Wright and a man who left $250 cash on her massage table.
Testimony indicated Strong watched the sexual encounters in Kennebunk through a live video call to his office 100 miles away in Thomaston.
Defense lawyer Daniel Lilley contends Strong committed no crime because he neither recruited clients nor profited from the operation.
"Observing a person in a criminal act is not a criminal act itself," Lilley told reporters Thursday outside the courthouse.
After a week of testimony, the lead investigator, Kennebunk police officer Audra Presby, testified briefly late Thursday afternoon, and she was due to return to the witness stand on Friday.
Strong, 57, of Thomaston, faces 13 counts that relate to promoting prostitution. A judge previously dismissed 46 counts of invasion of privacy over prostitution clients who were said to have been videotaped without their knowledge.
Prosecutors have more than 150 videos but showed jurors only a single 45-minute recording Thursday that depicted Wright chatting with an older man who arrived and immediately began undressing. After their sexual encounter, she used disposable wipes to clean up, escorted the man to the door and then spoke to another man, believed to be Strong, at the other end of a Skype chat.
Jurors showed little reaction as they watched the sexually explicit video on a large screen. One looked away during parts of it, one fiddled with an eyeglass case, another twiddled his thumbs and several stole glances at a clock.
Also Thursday, computer expert Frederick Williams told jurors how he recovered a ledger from Wright's computer that described entries for sexual encounters from Oct. 5, 2010 through Feb. 13, 2012, the day before police raided her office and studio in Kennebunk and her home in Wells.
One ledger entry showed a payment of $500 for a sexual encounter, Williams said.
Williams, a Saco police detective, was able to match videotaped sexual encounters recovered from Wright's computers and hard drives with Skype video snapshots of the same encounters on Strong's computer in his Thomaston office.
Other videos shown to jurors indicated Wright and Strong chatted via Skype before and after her sexual encounters, discussing scheduling and birth control, among other topics. Wright provided clients' license plate numbers to Strong, who also was a private investigator.
Before each of the encounters, Wright took a moment to ensure the video camera was hidden. "OK, here we go. I'm locking my screen," she told Strong on one video call.
The prostitution scandal attracted attention last fall after it was reported that Wright's ledgers indicated she made $150,000 over 18 months.
Strong contends he had an affair with 30-year-old Wright and helped finance her Pura Vida dance studio in Kennebunk but didn't promote prostitution. Prosecutors contended the videos proved he was familiar with the details of Wright's business. She will be tried separately later.
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What is the john's name? $250 is awfully cheap price for a 45 minute roll in the hay, isn't it? 150K in 18 months, darn, they need to legalize prostitution.
How is $250 for 45 minutes of anything "cheap"? Oh yeah I forgot you inherited your late father's capice-sun fortune so you don';t have to worry about money like the other 98% of people so $250 dollars means nothing to you. Why don't you go post on the prada and mazaratti website you floosy.
Sally: I was thinking the same thing. But she is a busy girl, very fit, because $150,000 divided by $250 is 600 times. Only a Zumba queen can deal with it like that. On the other hand I know several professionals (bankers, lawyers, CPA's, brokers) who have skee-rood their clients for a heck of a lot more than $150k in 18 months. They should run a photo of the madam. As for this guy they are prosecuting for watching people play around on skype - apparently nothing important is going on in Maine. Always knew it was a bucolic freezer. This must be pretty spicy stuff up there. IF the prosecutor wants real depravity to pursue, move to Florida, we have plenty.
L'Hater...wow... 250 is peanuts...ill drop that for 30 mins...
It's good to know that the 1% is well represented here then shep, why don't you guys use your money and influence for something that's good for a change rather than on forcing lower and middle-class women to have sexual rellations with you?
@Litterhater, The only thing I inherited from my father, besides some of his genes, is the work ethic him, and my mother, installed in not only me, but all my siblings. And since both parents are alive, they are spending what they want to spend on what they want to do. Isn't that what retirement is for?
And yes, that is a cheap price for 45 minutes of doing what they were doing. In my limited experience I have yet to see a man last that long. But then, anything is possible, right?
And 150K divided by 18 =$8,333.00 per month, tax free. So L'hater, don't you wish you were born a female? Like some say, sitting on a gold mine and didn't know it.
If $250 aint much, I got a few dime store tricks to sell you at an inflated price...and I doubt that you will need 30-45 minutes with either of them.
any gym pulling in just over 8,000 a month will barely be able to cover it's operating expenses nevermind fall under the "goldmine category" sally. And I don't want to get too personal but forty-five minutes is more than acheivable if you've got the right balance of physical fitness and chemical intake, just trust me with that. and as far as your categorization of the 250 for 45 minutes being cheap in the prostitution trade you';ve ben watchign way too much stories about las vegas and upper-manhattan call-girls because the trust is that well over 99 percent of prostitution activity occurs on the street-level where 250 dollars would basically buy you a week with those girls which is an unfrotuante but very accurate reality.
no kidding damon, I'll do pretty much anything that these people want for 45 minnutes if you're handing me $250 for it.
Not for nothing.. that could have been the fee for the "extra" burn work out.
I guess I dont get whatever it is I am supposed to get about this. I read this article and keep thinking who the f*ck cares?
Looks like she was a prostitute and he liked to watch the encounters. From what I can see, the stuff they threw out (the illegal cameras) is probably all they have to get him on. Like the article said, he didn't seem to have recruited people, didn't profit from it, and didn't seem to be pushing her into it. He knew it was going on, but was he "promoting" it?! From what I can tell from the article, there is a good chance a jury will side with the defense team.
Wow - so 46 of the Ultra rich got their cases (as Johns) thrown out because of invasion of privacy? Do you have the right to "invasion of privacy" while you are yourself committing a crime? I guess I can fill up my car with gas and drive off as long as I fill up without a bra or shirt on? I don't know where the cameras are at all stores.....Kennebunk...where money walks...
I love stories like this one because nobody is getting seriously hurt, just embarrassed.
Nothing better than watching prominent citizens scrambling for cover when their caught [literally] with their pants down.
@ Litter Hater----- You'll do anything for 45 minutes for $250.00. Bend over I'll call the boys. LOL.
Legalize,prostitution and marijuana.Regulate it ,tax them,and the national debt,will be paid off,in a year.
pete balutis - you could be right.
However, I can imagine that the manure will hit the fan when she gets an IRS notice to pay federal taxes on that income...
Are all of those pay Dating sites a middle-man if two people have sex after hooking up at that site - they got paid to set up the encounter?
Just try and find a free dating site.
Shouldn't that be business be named Puta Vida?
Can we waste taxpayer dollars on something else?
He paid, she laid, state did not get tax revenue = crime.
Well sure the state us upset they didn't get their cut, but for some reason taking money for sex is illegal so you can't exactly report that income. If anything the government is shooting itself in the foot.
Yup, if the government can't get their cut it's illegal just like Moonshining. The government ain't nothing more than a legal pimp.
Then legalize, regulate and tax it and stop wasting my tax dollars for these prosecutions. It would be safer and cleaner if it was legalized, regulated and taxed. Why is everyone so concerned what people do with their own money in their own privacy. The extreme right and the extreme left are nothing but a different flavor of the Taliban
If we could get religion out of government, we could legalize prostitution, marijuana,and a host of other vices. Tax it all and pay off our deficits.
Religion had nothing to do with marijuana being illegal. You can thank Nixon (I think it was) who was trying to get back at the hippies for their legal demonstrations. It's largely illegal today I think because government cannot figure out a good way to tax it.
Ed Burke-3968875
I couldn't agree with you more. Remnants of puritanical religious sensibilities that contaminate our government are not only costing us money but actually limiting the freedoms we love to declare we have.
I agree with you both - Ed Burke & Papayua2!
actually it's the typically hypocritical libs who have an issue as prostitution is abuse and keeping a woman down. So apparantly we're supposed to stay out of her private parts when she wants to terminate her child but when she wants to use them as a source of income they get all ethical. Odd isn't it? And people wonder why libs are so messed up.
What's messed up is you reading a story about a prostitution trial and thinking about political views and abortion. Yikes!
Marijuana was outlawed in the 20's thanks to Texas bigotry, and the paper industry that did not want the competition from cheap hemp fiber. You can thank Anslinger for the current marijuana laws and perpetuation bigotry and corporate interests in Congress.
---
Nevada legalized it, regulates it, taxes it, and it's not an issue. But there's still way too much puritan-thinking in the rest of the nation to cash in on a revenue stream we certainly need, cannot stop with laws, and will continue as long as men have penises.
Please leave these people alone, it's Maine first off so they don't got much else to do in the off-season and the fact that they were at a Zumba studio shows that they are all interested in their health and fitness so what's the problem if they have sexual encounters with other members there? and also who's to say that that money these dudes left wasn't for back-gym fees? consensual encounters are whatever stop making this out to be the crime of the century and don't forget that Fish McBites are now available on the McDonald's value menu and they're a great way to get a cheap boost of protein on-the-go post workout.
yes breaded McDonald's crap food is good for you
as longas you're supplementing it with other sources of viatimins than yes it is for people who are on the move and don't have a lot of money and still want to have the energy and protein-balance to work out and stay healthy.
Well, if it's protein you're after...you could get plenty and make some $$$. As long as you're not a spitter.
wtf are you talking about custom9? You don't make money by eating them you have to pay but I guess that since you're used to getting everything handed to you that that concept of paying for a product or service is foregin to you huh?
Turst me, I live in Maine about 15 minutes from where this all "went down". We're as tired of hearing about it as everyone else.
WTF are you talking about Litter? "but I guess that since you're used to getting everything handed to you that that concept of paying for a product or service is foregin to you huh?" Where do you get this BS from? Handed to me? Okay, I get it..."Hater"...
Never had anything "handed to" me. Sorry that McJob ain't working out so well for you're low rent azz. If you had some education, and a real job, the $250 wouldn't seem like so much. And you can make $$ by eathing them..if you're good...how the hell do you think I made my rent while I was paying own way through college?
Custom1911 Wait Im confused. Are you saying you paid your way through college because you were good at nibbling nuggets?
Hey Custom1911, I heard the same thing you did....ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM.
@ LitterHater
I don't think you understood Custom 1911's remark.
First, give some thought to what the subject matter of this article is. Secondly, then think how "protein" would be a part of the activities of the story, and then finally give a good thought to how "NOT spitting" would lead to plenty of $$$$ for the non-spitter.
Doesn't really have anything to McDonald's nuggets!!!
Nahh..not nuggets...biscuits! Lickety split!
Where do I sign up for zumba classes?
How ironic is it that the Marry Magdalene’s of the world are getting prosecuted and the thieves on Wall Street are still free; and perhaps, these thieves are running around and acquiring services of these companions of Christ.
What I was thinking
$150,000 in 18 months at $250-$500 a pop...that's a lot of "zumba" with men she doesn't really know.
They're called membership dues catc and every fitness studio charges them if anything else went on behind closed-doors that's up to the consenting adults involved but $150,000 in eighteen months or whatever is what you'd expect a small studio with up-class clientalle to bring in so there's nothing out of the orddinary going on here.
This is why guys use date rape drugs, they can't afford those prices. No, I am not trying to be a troll and tick people off. I am being bluntly honest.
BFD!
No one got shot..
No one got sick...
Everyone got happy...
BFD!
I missed his explanation of why they video taped the sexual encounters. Was it intended as entrapment? Or fulfilling a fantasy for Strong?
Never mind... I missed the part where the story mentioned he is a private investigator. I'm sure he was planning black mail...
You wanna see Ms Wright in action, go to eroprofile.com, type in the name KiKiku or Kiki cu and check out the videos. They were there as of last week.
Why is this national news?
Good question, why is this lame story news? No need to report real news here at MSNBC
Maybe they are trying to tell the women that they can screw their way to riches? I would like to know why those male customers aren't being named? Surely this is a list of those names somewhere. I would like to see that published, they publish the woman's name, why not the John's names, and exactly what they do for a living?
The divorce lawyers would be busy if that happened. So why not let everyone know who was having sex with her? What if she had a STD? Would the health dept be involved?
It's the first time prostitution and zumba was ever mentioned in the same sentence.
SallyAnn if you go to the Kennebunk PD's website, they have been releasing names weekly. It's really not that interesting though, unless you know them personally.
Getting paid for being laid, I guess that's the name of the game.
Elton John and Bernie Taupin
Sweet Painted Lady on the Yellow Brick Road Album
So what if she did take cash? Where's the victims here?
I've spent as much taking a date out to a dinner and show, what's the difference?
It's still against the law. Send them both to jail. Had it been anyone else you would be screaming send them to jail.
Thank you Osama bin Laden pompous azz
I am still trying to figure out why it is illegal to sell a service that is perfectly legal to give away.
Nice name... In the same token, i'm not sure why someone pays for something you can get for free pretty easily!
Rob, same could be said of a lot of jobs, why hire a maid when you can clean your house for free, why eat at a restaurant when you can cook. Because sometimes you just don't feel like going through the hassle.
Leave these people alone! It's like we're living in the 18th century. Prostitution has been going on for thousands of years. Take an older guy in his 50's or 60's. If that's what he wants and she is willing to be with him, whose business is that? It is usually good for both of them. On the other hand, if she is being abused, then the man should be prosecuted. Why should anyone look at the videos in court and judge them? This goes on all of the time with judges, lawyers, doctors, etc., but they get away with it. They just never get caught.
I do feel bad for the older women who are jealous of the young woman and want the older man to BURN. The fact is that money and status in men attracts youth and beauty in women. That will never change. Take a priest who is celibate...some of them end up doing some pretty weird stuff, like molesting young boys! How sickening! Why is sex between to consenting adults wrong? What happens between two consulting adults is their business. The man is very satisfied and happy and the woman has the extra money she needs to survive. Why does anyone need to judge them? Especially viewing their intimate sessions in court. Prostitution should be legalized. It is in Nevada.
Amazing that a congressman pays some bimbo money for food an apartment etc and its a mistress but this is prostitution
Back when I worked at a warehouse with a bunch of younger guys, the subject of what you would do for money came up now and again... Amazing what some of these guys would do for very little money. I think some kids said he would give the boss (a prick) a r i m job for like $50! Sick &^*^&8s It was fun though...i think the boss overheard us one time...pretty sure that place went out of business.
I walked by that studio once, the window sign proudly proclaimed:
"The customer always comes first!!".
Florida's organges, winter sunshine, and Everglades are easily trumped by the ungodly summer heat and humidity, gators, giant creepy crawlers, pythons, pancake flat geography, and sinkholes that suck people into the center of the earth. If one is looking for ocean beaches and great seafood ths there are many other options.
prostitution and prosecution are very similar words.
Do prostitutes get paid by the mile or the minute for the ride like a taxi ?
How many of those johns were rum running kennedys. Oh yea those were the ones that were dismissed
I think they were running a blackmail scheme. Why else was she taping it and giving the license plate numbers of the "clients" to this guy who just happens to be a private investigator?
It's so that he can claim that he came upon evidence of them cheating on their wives, which he would gladly discard if they paid him off.
Remind me again who the victim is here. Just trying to figure out who the state is protecting with this prosecution.
Honestly, in this day-and-age, who cares?! Big Brother should not bother consenting adults doing what they want to do with and to each other in private.