JohnTV.com Posts New Videos to YouTube

JohnTV.com Posts New Videos to YouTube 4/1/07 -- This weekend JohnTV.com posted four new videos to the popular video sharing website YouTube.com. The videos are as follows; 1.) (2002) TODAY show interview with Video Vigilante This video is from an interview by Matt Louer of the TODAY show just days after Brian Bates, aka the Video Vigilante, taped the infamous Donald Pete arrest. 2.) Video Vigilante Catches Military Recruiter with Hooker This is a KFOR news channel 4 newscast of a military recruiter caught by the Video Vigilante picking up a known street prostitute. 3.) Segment from Video Vigilantes Special This is an edited portion of a one-hour special that aired on video vigilantes. 4.) News Coverage of Hooker Tour in OKC This is a KOCO news channel 5 newscasts of a tour given to local city leaders by Brian Bates, aka the Video Vigilante, and the Alliance Against Prostitution (AAP). See all JohnTV.com YouTube videos here. Visit JohnTV.com here.

Prostitute and 'John' Foil Vice Sting

3/21/07 -- OKC, OK - Oklahoma City Vice stage sting to net street prostitutes; Prostitute and local business owner allegedly foil vice's efforts. Last Friday afternoon members of the Oklahoma City Vice Unit conducted a street prostitution sting near SE 44th and S. Byers. In response to citizen complaints, male undercover officers were in the area attempting to arrest soliciting female prostitutes. Only one prostitute, Angela Denise Clemons, 39, was arrested, though at least 7 additional prostitutes were witnessed soliciting in the area. According to one prostitute working that day, vice's efforts were thwarted from the beginning by a local business owner who pointed the sting out to her. JohnTV.com's own Brian Bates, aka the Video Vigilante, was in the area and caught the alleged 'John' business owner and prostitute on tape. Later, the prostitute admitted to Bates what had actually happened. According to Kemala "Kim" G. Brown, 44, she was picked up by a white male driving a dark pickup truck. Brown told Bates that the driver owned the commercial property where vice officers had staged their takedown area and processing. As the driver was taking Brown past his property he noticed vice behind his building and Clemons in custody. Brown said the driver called his business and asked an employee to checkout what was going on. The employee told the driver it was a vice sting. Brown said the driver became upset because police had not asked his permission to be on his property. Brown said the driver then took her to SE 48th and Byers and dropped her off - telling her he would be back to date her "after midnight." Brown said she then warned the other prostitutes of vice's presence, Clemons's arrest and takedown location. Within minutes the area was deserted and hundreds of tax dollars and police officer's time wasted. *Note: JohnTV.com has intentionally withheld the name of the business and its address because this location is often used by police.

Video Vigilante Aids in Arrest of Fugitive

3/21/07 -- OKC, OK - Local video activist aids in arrest of a wanted fugitive with a felony record this afternoon and it is all caught on camera. At about 3:20p.m. Brian Bates, aka the Video Vigilante and founder of JohnTV.com, witnessed a man on South Robinson Ave. that he knew to have outstanding warrants. Bates, along with another man, called the Oklahoma City Marshals office to report the fugitive's location. The man, Alphonzo Fields, 42, a convicted felon, has long been rumored to buy and sell drugs in the Capitol Hill area. Bates says that on at least two occasions Fields has threatened Bates's life. Bates followed Fields until a City Marshal was able to pull him over and place Fields under arrest. Fields was booked into the Oklahoma County jail for outstanding warrants on assault and battery, traffic tickets and failure to appear. Fields's criminal history includes; 1998 conviction for public drunk. 2002 failure to appear (open case with warrant). 2002 disregarding a traffic signal (open case with warrant). 1996 charged with assault. 1996 conviction for destroying property. 2002 conviction for DUI, speeding, and misc. traffic violations. 2002 conviction for DUI and misc. traffic violations. 1999 conviction for domestic abuse. 1997 conviction for robbery in the 1st degree after felony conviction. 1997 conviction for carrying a firearm while drunk. Click here to see Fields's DOC record.

Click here to see the video.

Video Vigilante Makes Second Arrest of 2007

Video Vigilante Makes Second Arrest of 2007 Video of arrest honored on YouTube 3/19/07 (Updated 3/21/07) -- OKC, OK - Brian Bates, aka the Video Vigilante and founder of JohnTV.com and the SidebarBlog, arrests alleged street prostitute after she flashes passing motorists. Woman's arrest leads to additional charges for drugs. This afternoon Bates was documenting street prostitution activities near SW 43rd and South Robinson Ave. when the arrest was made. As seen in the video captured by Bates, the female street prostitute, Krystal R. Cleghorn, 23, was soliciting on S. Robinson and directing her customers, also known as 'Johns,' to a vacant house near SW 38th. There she would perform oral sex on the male drivers. Cleghorn was also observed speaking with several young children in the area. Fearing Cleghorn would leave before Bates could capture her prostitution on tape he called 911 after witnessing her flashing passing motorists. Bates says street prostitutes often flash customers to prove they are not police. Two Oklahoma City police officers arrived quickly to the scene and detained Cleghorn. While searching the Cleghorn's belongings, the officer found what he described as two glass meth. pipes. After reviewing the tape, police allowed Bates to place Cleghorn under citizens arrest for engaging in an act of public lewdness. Cleghorn was then transported to the Oklahoma County jail. While Cleghorn herself was being searched at the jail, a detention officer "found a small plastic baggie...that contained a clear, crystal like substance." The substance was tested and determined to be methamphetamine. According to the Oklahoma County jail blotter, Cleghorn was booked into jail for public indecency, possession of CDS, possession of drug paraphernalia and drug paraphernalia violation. All of which occurred within 1,000' of a church. Cleghorn is being held on a $3,500 bond. Court records show that Cleghorn is currently serving a one-year suspended sentence for a 2007 conviction of obstructing a police officer. Cleghorn's suspended sentence could be revoked as a result of this arrest. Public records show the following arrests/charges for Cleghorn in the past; Truckstop prostitution 2004 Canadian County. Obstruction 2006 Oklahoma County. Numerous trespassing tickets at area truckstops. Possession of marijuana 2006 OKC. Possession of marijuana 2005 OKC. Possession of marijuana 2005 OKC. Drug paraphernalia 2006 OKC. Drug paraphernalia 2005 OKC. Drug paraphernalia 2005 OKC. Drug Paraphernailia 2007 OKC Case is active. Jail stay recovery 2007 OKC Case is active. No state driver's license 2007 OKC Case is active. The video of Cleghorn's actions and arrest is posted on YouTube.com. On 3/21/07 the video was honored on YouTube as the 48th 'Top Favorite' video in the News and Politics section for that day. *Note: You can watch a recent overview of street prostitution in OKC here. All JohnTV.com YouTube videos can be found here.

Arrest Wrap Up Now on Sidebar Blog

3/12/07 -- Okla. Co - A new daily feature, Arrest Wrap Up, has been added to the Sidebar Blog, authored by Brian Bates, aka the Video Vigilante and founder of JohnTV.com. The daily and weekend arrest wrap up highlights individuals booked into the Oklahoma County jail. The wrap up spotlights those arrested for prostitution, assault, robbery, theft, rape, murder and other crimes. When available, links will be provided to the individual's mug shot. In some cases, links will also be provided to a photos of the individual's home. You can read the Sidebar Blog here.

New Robinson Minute Available

3/10/07 -- OKC, OK - A new Robinson Minute video has been completed and posted on YouTube.com. The Robinson Minute is a brief look at recent street prostitution activities in South Oklahoma City. This most recent video is from January through March 5 of this year. Copies of the Robinson Minute are sent to local city leaders. The hope is that by exposing them to the graphic realities of street prostitution they will seek solutions. You can view the video here.

March Nat'l/Int'l News Wrapup

Nat'l: Mother Prostitutes 7-Year-Old Daughter Taylor, MI -- A 33-year-old woman was arraigned Sunday on charges alleging she offered to let an undercover investigator take pornographic photos of her 7-year-old daughter and have sex with the girl, authorities said. (more - external link) Nat'l: HIV-Positive Prostitute Makes Court Appearance; Allegedly Had Sex with Students in Dorm 3/30/07 -- Chester County, PA - The HIV-positive prostitute who told Cheyney University police she had sex with 10 students at the school, igniting a health scare on campus, made her first appearance in a Chester County courtroom Thursday. Sakinah K. Floyd, 34, of Upper Darby, waived her preliminary hearing, and Magisterial District Judge J. Peter Winther ordered the charges against her held for trial in Common Pleas Court. Floyd is charged with three counts of reckless endangerment, five felony counts of prostitution and related offenses stemming from incidents inside a Cheyney University dorm on Feb. 8. (more - external link) Nat'l: Police Shoot Man who Fled Prostitution Sting 3/30/07 -- Jonesboro, GA - Police shot a man they say hit an officer with his pickup truck while trying to flee a prostitution sting. The man was hit more than once, including in the chest, Thursday and was taken to a hospital. Clayton County police say they were conducting an undercover prostitution sting in a motel parking lot when the shooting happened around 9:20 p-m. (more - external link) Nat'l: North Carolina Pastor Charged with Exploiting Minor 3/30/07 -- Kernsville, NC - A pastor at a High Point church faces numerous charges involving a 17-year-old boy, Kernersville police announced today. Todd Turner Brock, 42, of 507 Old Mill Road in High Point, is charged with first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, promoting prostitution of a minor, disseminating obscenity and solicitation of another to commit a felony, according to Kernersville police. (more - external link) Nat'l: Vice Sting Nets High School Soccer Coach 3/30/07 -- Paterson, NJ - Seven men, including the Eastside High School boy's varsity soccer coach, were arrested on charges of soliciting a prostitute in a mid-afternoon vice-squad blitz. Among the suspects are two 70-year-old men. Relatives of Giovanni Ormaeche, 46, of Ramsey, a soccer coach at Eastside, said Ormaeche pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Wednesday in Municipal Court and declined further comment, referring calls to attorneys at Vivino & Vivino in Wayne. (more - external link)

Seedy Side of Vice II: Recent Arrests Show Disturbing Trend

Making a case or cause for concern? 4/29/06 (updated 5/2/06) -- Oklahoma City, OK - Public records recount each and every prostitution arrest in Oklahoma County. A closer look shows a disparity between street prostitution arrests and private escort arrests; One that is a cause for concern. JohnTV.com reviews arrest reports, probable cause affidavits and other public records on a daily basis. While reviewing these records we've noticed a disturbing trend. While street prostitutes are often placed under arrest and successfully prosecuted for simply offering to engage in a lewd act, often, the more attractive private escorts are encouraged by police to undress, touch and even masturbate in front of male undercover officers prior to their arrest. Police say their actions are necessary to make a case, JohnTV.com speculates the line between enforcing the law, making a case and indulging one's own deviance gets arguably blurry. JohnTV.com first reported on these questionable tactics September 16 of last year.

In that case we shined a light on the case of convicted Dallas escort Amber Kay Sears, 21. Sears was arrested June 3 of last year after being contacted via email by an undercover Oklahoma City vice officer and lured to Oklahoma City for a sexual encounter. Sears was brought to OKC by her husband Nelson Sears, 24.

According to court records, Sears agreed to an hour of "anything but anal" for $270. The entire transaction; advertisement, solicitation, procurement and planned sex was to take place completely behind closed doors and away from the knowledge and sensitivities of the general public. Even though police records clearly show that Sears had broke the law when she told the officer he would be required to wear a condom and that she was willing to perform any sex act other than anal for the paid $270, the officers did not make an arrest at that point. Instead, the undercover officer instructed Sears to take off her clothing and then masturbate in front of the undercover officer (isn't it nice to know what your tax dollars will get you these days).

Sears pled guilty to felony charges including computer crimes (those naughty emails back and forth), offering to engage in prostitution, and maintaining a house of prostitution last September. Amber was given a five year deferred sentence, required to be evaluated for drugs and alcohol, and fines and court costs in excess of $1,600.

Did all this effort by Oklahoma City Vice and all the tax dollars spent by Oklahoma County District Attorney Wes Lane to prosecute Sears teach her a lesson, rehabilitate her criminal ways and cause us all to sleep better at night?

You can judge for yourself by clicking here and here. (Update 5/2/06: Obviously Amber, aka "Candie," is a fan of JohnTV.com. Within hours of JohnTV.com posting links to her active escort Internet sites she pulled the one she actually has control of [second link]. Most likely for fear it would prove she is in violation of her felony suspended sentence. Worry not, we here at JohnTV are very thorough. You can see Amber's site as it appeared [we edited out the pages with nudity] by clicking here [.pdf document]. If we here at JohnTV wanted Amber's suspended sentence accelerated to prison time, we'd have posted links to her other "escort" ads, reviews and Yahoo group which have begun to appear on other forums. It's amazing the links people will send us!)

Would it not have served a much greater good to have spent those same tax dollars fighting street prostitution which is rampant in South Oklahoma City? Prostitution that literally holds entire neighborhoods hostage. Instead, Oklahoma City Vice continually chooses to waste tax dollars fighting a segment of prostitution that is not seen nor complained about by the public at large.

Oh wait a minute... they also get free sex shows with your tax dollars - silly us!

In recent weeks JohnTV.com has noticed Oklahoma City Vice's 'policy of perversion' continues unabated.

in this episode of the "Seedy Side of Vice" we will look at the cases of Marci Edgin and Jamie Murcek.

Edgin, 51, was arrested October 5 of last year by members of Oklahoma City vice.

According to court records, an undercover officer contacted Edgin after seeing an ad she had placed for massage services in Night Shift Magazine.

Edgin, using the name "Charlie," quoted a rate of $100 for a 45-minute massage and instructed the officer to come to her residence at the Lakeview Tower Apartments.

At about 7:30pm the officer arrived and was greeted by Edgin, who was wearing "a small white piece of lingerie."

Edgin collected the $100 and took the officer to a bedroom containing a massage table.

The officer undressed and Edgin began to give him a massage.

According to the probable cause affidavit, the officer stated that "he liked to watch a woman masturbate ... then asked [Edgin] if she would masturbate for him."

Only after getting his free show did the officer ask Edgin for oral sex. Edgin agreed and was taken into custody.

The report failed to mention where the now naked undercover officer kept his badge and handcuffs.

Edgin was charged with a felony, convicted earlier this month and sentenced to one-year suspended.

Murcek, 27, from Omaha, NB was arrested April 3rd.

According to court records, Murcek had placed an ad offering "escort" services on the Internet site CraigsList.com last March.

Undercover officers contacted Murcek via email and agreed to meet at the Super 8 Motel in South Oklahoma City for an hour of "escort" services for the agreed price of $250.

At about 5:00pm the undercover officer arrived at the hotel room and was instructed to place the $250 on the nightstand. Murcek told the officer she had brought condoms.

Both the officer and Murcek got undressed.

Murcek produced "a pink phallic vibrator and began to masturbate."

Only after "performing" for the naked undercover officer was Murcek placed under arrest.

Murcek, charged with a felony, is currently awaiting a court date.

JohnTV.com brings these three cases to the public's attention because they (and dozens of similar examples) stand in stark contrast to street prostitution arrests.

Page after page of escort related police reports recount tales of masturbation, gropping, naked cuddling and other indecent acts at tax payer expense with undercover Oklahoma City police officers.

After literally going through hundreds of public records we have found no police reports which detail, the often less attractive, street prostitutes being encouraged, or even allowed, to undress, fondle or masturbate themselves or the undercover officer.

JohnTV.com asks, why would the criteria for making a case against a street prostitute be so different than that of a private escort?

Many would argue that prostitution in any form is often a direct result of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. At the very least it is a demeaning act by any standard.

Should we as a society allow our city, county or state law enforcement officers to engage in acts of victimization in the name of enforcing the law. Especially when the "criminals" are engaged in acts kept 100% behind closed doors and are not the topic of public outcry for relief?

The "Seedy Side of Vice" will be an ongoing effort to expose our city's "policies of perversion."

D.A. Lane Press Release Regarding Gassaway Arrest

Date: March 7, 2006 Media statement from Oklahoma County District Attorney Wes Lane regarding the Mike Gassaway arrest. Approximately one week ago the Oklahoma City Vice unit was directed to a female who said she knew Mike Gassaway would trade out his legal services in return for sex with female clients. This female had originally been arrested by another law enforcement agency on a routine traffic stop at which time drug paraphernalia was found in her car. Otherwise this person had no prior criminal record on her. Without any promises made to her she made known the name of a prostitute to the Vice Unit who she claimed to have had this sexual arrangement with Gassaway in the past. She also advised police that her boyfriend had already hired Gassaway to represent him in a felony DUI case and that she had been bringing cash payments to Gassaway's office on her boyfriend's legal fee's which was of course perfectly legal. She offered to approach Gassaway to see if he would be interested in making a trade of sex for legal services. The Vice Unit put a body microphone on her and she then met with Gassaway last Wednesday at which time she represented to him that her and her boyfriend had no more money and that she would like to make a trade with him as her female friend had. She then named the friend and Gassaway expressed his willingness to do that and told her to come back the next afternoon to as he put it "working that program." The next afternoon, the female informant, with a microphone returned, at which time Gassaway invited her into his office, locked the door and they then negotiated in the amount of three hundred dollars being credited to her boyfriend's account for every time she preformed oral sex on Gassaway. Gassaway ultimately pulled his pants down, and about that time the police began pounding at the door. The police having been monitoring the phone or the conversation, Gassaway opened the door and was videotaped with his belt undone and his shirt hanging out his fly. He was then placed under arrest. Today I am filling charges on John Michael Gasaway for the misdemeanor crime of offering to engage in an act of prostitution. This crime carries as a penalty of up to one year in a county jail, and or a fine up to $25 hundred dollars. Under the law, offering to engage essentially means someone else has offered someone else money in exchange for a sex act. The public should also know that allegations of this kind are not only criminal in nature but violation of ethical rules governing the conduct of lawyers in our profession. The Oklahoma Supreme Court makes these rules and the lawyers working full time for the bar association enforcing those laws. The public should know that over 90 percent of practicing lawyers have never had a complaint made against them. Since his arrest, there have been several women who have called both the police and the bar association concerning Mr. Gassaway. If you have information concerning these or similar allegations against Mr. Gassaway, we would ask that you call Crime stoppers at 235-7300 and an officer will discuss this with you. Finally, on the night of his arrest, Mr. Gassaway and his attorney, Scott Adams, claimed that Gassaway was nothing other than the innocent victim of my office and the Oklahoma City Police Department. They claimed that the reason he got arrested was because, "we continue to come after him." They also accused that our 130 pound female informant forcibly unbuckled Gassaway's belt all against his will. In response to Mr. Gassaway and his lawyer's claim that the only guilty people in this matter work for me and the police, I'll just say this - This entire matter was recorded and real men don't make excuses and they don't blame other people for their own moral failures. I would encourage Mr. Adams and Mr. Gassaway to stop blaming other people and start excepting some responsibility."

Oklahoma City Police Officer Fired for Alleged Sex with Prostitute; DA Lane Refuses to File Charges

1/28/06 (updated 1/31/06) -- Oklahoma City - Last week an Oklahoma City police officer was fired after allegations he had been having sex with prostitutes in is patrol car. Oklahoma County district attorney Wes Lane refuses to prosecute. JohnTV.com had been receiving information on at least two officers that were being investigated for engaging in sexual intercourse with prostitutes in their patrol cars while on duty. Last night the investigation and result of at least one officer was confirmed by a report aired on KFOR News Channel 4. According to the report, police internal affairs conducted a lengthy investigation into Oklahoma City police officer Jeff Sellers. The results of that investigation were turned over to Oklahoma County district attorney Wes Lane. Lane refused to file charges against the officer. Police administration decided there was enough evidence to warrant firing Sellers. A source close to the Oklahoma City police department tells JohnTV.com that Sellers was not the only officer investigated in this case. Another officer, who JohnTV.com will only identify as T.B. was allowed to retire and maintain full benefits as opposed to being fired for his alleged criminal activity. JohnTV.com speculates that DA Wes Lane was hesitant to uphold his duty and moral obligation to criminally charge the officer(s) because this is an election year for Lane and he desperately desires the support of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). JohnTV.com's source says there have actually been several similar investigations stemming from credible allegations that Oklahoma City police officers have victimized those they are entrusted to protect the community from. In several cases officers were moved to other police divisions or given "desk" jobs. When a man procures a street prostitute he is betraying his family and continuing the victimization of the woman engaged in street prostitution. When an officer of the law, in uniform and on duty, procures a street prostitute he has betrayed the entire community and violated his oath. The only thing more inexcusable than an immoral police officer who flagrantly violates the law is Oklahoma County district attorney Wes Lane's apparent indifference and unwillingness to up hold the law - all for the sake of politics. JohnTV.com will have more to come.