Lower Paxton Township Police arrested a man Friday, who the county’s district attorney said was running a “suburban brothel” at his home on Kenwood Avenue.
Police charged Coy Klinger with six felonies, saying he recruited girls and young women through Facebook and other social media to become prostitutes.
“He was sending messages without friending them, but he was trolling Facebook looking for young girls,” said Ed Marsico, Dauphin County’s district attorney.
Marsico said he knew of one 16-year-old and one 18-year-old who became involved in prostitution. He said Klinger took naked photos of a 17-year-old girl with the intention of promoting her for prostitution.
“You know it’s something I think oftentimes we think, ‘Ah, it doesn’t happen here.’ It does,” said Marsico.
Klinger did not answer the door when reporters went to his house Thursday.
Court records show his bail was set at $50,000 last Friday. He was released from prison the next day.
“It’s unbelievable that there’s only $50,000 bail, which we’re just appalled at that,” said Janice Jones, who lives near Klinger. Several neighbors told FOX43 they were surprised Klinger had been released from prison.
“He’s on bail. There are conditions of bail, that he not have contact with anyone underage. We’re hopeful that there’s no threat at this time. The police, and hopefully the neighbors, are monitoring him closely,” said Marsico.
“Please! The night he was released, there was a young girl in his backyard with him again. Now, this is just unbelievable,” said Jones.
Klinger’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 15. The FBI was at Thursday’s press conference and said Klinger could be charged federally.