Fayette madam faces prison

UNIONTOWN - Convicted madam and former Fayette County Commissioner Susanne Teslovich was scheduled to start serving a six-to-36-month prison sentence today.

Her last chance to avoid prison came up empty last week, when the state Supreme Court refused to hear her appeal of multiple 2001 prostitution convictions.

Teslovich, of Menallen Township, served two terms as Fayette County commissioner and lost a bid for county controller before opening an escort service named First Class Entertainment.

She was arrested in 2000, after state police made tape recordings of her discussing graphic sexual activities with undercover officers who posed as customers.

Two admitted prostitutes testified during her December 2001 trial that Teslovich believed she had insulated herself from prosecution because she had her employees sign forms promising that they would not engage in unlawful activity.

In state police wiretaps played for the jury, Teslovich was heard frankly discussing what sexual activities her employees would and would not do.

Teslovich claimed she was the target of a political vendetta.

Fayette County Judge John F. Wagner Jr. sentenced Teslovich to serve six to 36 months in state prison early in 2002, but the judge allowed Teslovich to remain free on bond pending the resolution of her appeal.