3 women arrested on prostitution charges in New Kensington
NEW KENSINGTON — Three women accused of offering to sell sex on the city's streets are in the Westmoreland County jail awaiting a hearing.
Hilary J. Batenburge, 21, of Ridge Avenue, New Kensington; Michelle Lynn Brown, 38, of Alcoa Drive, Arnold; and Jacqueline E. Harris-Waters, 48, of Fourth Avenue, New Kensington, were arrested by local police and Westmoreland County detectives during the weekend.
Each woman is in the county jail in lieu of $25,000 bond, pending preliminary hearings.
New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. said the high bond was set to get the women to attend the hearings and to discourage street crime.
Batenburge was arrested in the 300 block of Catalpa Street just before 1 a.m. Saturday. She allegedly offered to perform a sex act for $40.
Batenburge is charged with promoting prostitution-loitering for purpose of prostitution and having drug paraphernalia, namely, a hypodermic needle.
Brown was arrested in the 300 block of Catalpa Street about 12:30 a.m. Friday.
According to an affidavit, Brown flagged down an undercover officer and allegedly offered to perform a sex act for $30. She was charged with prostitution.
Harris-Waters was arrested just after 2 a.m. Friday at McCargo Street and Constitution Boulevard. She allegedly offered to perform a sex act for $30.
Harris-Waters is charged with promoting prostitution-loitering for purpose of prostitution.
Angelo Enciso, one of the Arnold and New Kensington Crime Watch leaders, said watch groups from several areas have been calling police about seeing criminal acts.
“We had a problem at the viaduct (near) Constitution Boulevard,” he said. “They had some problems at Parnassus, too, and have been in contact with the police.”
“This is great to see,” said Nancy Love, who coordinates the Parnassus block watch. “Citizens have seen this for months, and we've been telling police about it along Main Street and Constitution Boulevard.”
Chuck Biedka is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-226-4711 or cbiedka@tribweb.com.
