Nine in St. Mary's Arrested After Sting Linked to Craigslist

Nine people have been arrested in St. Mary's County in recent months in connection with a sting operation in which undercover sheriff's detectives responded to ads in the adult services section of Craigslist, authorities said last week.

The sting, the first of its kind in St. Mary's, began in December. Police were investigating the case of a Bowie man who was beaten and robbed after he went to Lexington Park to meet a woman who had advertised sexual services on Craigslist, an online service. Three people, including the woman, were charged with first-degree assault and armed robbery.

Undercover detectives then began responding to ads and arresting people who offered or sought sex in exchange for money or other goods, said Capt. Daniel Alioto, commander of vice narcotics for the St. Mary's sheriff's office.

"That gave us the idea that we had an issue," Alioto said. "I mean, once you start a conversation with them, it's not like too many of them hide what they're doing or what they're looking for."

Police arrested six people in the first phase of the operation in March, Alioto said. This month, officers completed the operation with three more arrests, including that of a man who police said was seeking services on Craigslist and asked undercover detectives what access they had to "young boys."

Scott G. Hunter, 44, of Lusby was charged with attempted second-degree sexual offense and perverted practice, police said. He posted $25,000 bond and was released, court records show.

Alioto said that those arrested are from a variety of backgrounds, including some who said that their businesses had failed and that they needed cash.