AUGUSTA — A Sidney man whose home was raided last April as part of an investigation into alleged sex trafficking made an initial court appearance Tuesday but did not enter any pleas on the charges.
Frederick Horne Sr., 47, faces three counts of sex trafficking and one of marijuana trafficking, all misdemeanors, as well as one felony count of unlawful possession of oxycodone.
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Horne was represented in Kennebec County Superior Court on Tuesday by attorney Scott Hess, but he told the judge he would be asking for a court-appointed attorney. Horne is accused of promoting prostitution Feb. 10 to April 10 at his Sidney residence.
He is due in court again Sept. 30.
Justice Michaela Murphy agreed to District Attorney Maeghan Maloney’s request that Horne’s bail be set at $1,000 unsecured. Conditions of bail prohibit Horne from having contact with the six women alleged to be victims in the sex-trafficking counts. He also is prohibited from possession of alcohol and illegal drugs.
Horne’s West River Road property, the site of Adam & Eve escort service, was raided by police April 10. Police were armed with a search warrant and seeking evidence of sex trafficking and welfare fraud, according to an affidavit by state police Trooper Christopher Crawford. Crawford indicated that Horne had been investigated over the past two years at different locations.
Horne said later Tuesday that the escort service is no longer in operation.
In an interview shortly after the police raid, he said, “It may be illegal, but you know what? A place like here where it doesn’t bother anybody, for one thing, and morally, I have my faith too, and it may not be right, but it’s like anybody else — they have the right to walk by a church or to walk into it,” Horne said.
“It’s the United States of America. It’s supposed to be a free country.”
Horne said the women working for him ranged in age from 20 to 48, and that several had difficult upbringings.
When Murphy told Horne that he has an outstanding $670 fine owed to Augusta District Court in an unrelated matter, he said his only income is a $1,267 monthly check from Social Security. He was convicted in 2013 of failing to report a motor vehicle accident and fined.
“You never made a payment,” Murphy told him. She ordered him to pay $200 a month beginning in August and said she would recall the warrant issued by that court for his arrest and would lift a suspension of his driver’s license.
Murphy also told him that because of his income, he would be required to pay some amount toward his court-appointed attorney.
As a result of the raid, Horne and his son, Frederick Horne Jr., 19, initially were summoned to Waterville District Court on one sex-trafficking charge each. The younger Horne pleaded not guilty to the single misdemeanor count when he was arraigned Tuesday in that court. He too requested a court-appointed attorney.
A conviction on that charge carries a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail and a $2,000 fine
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
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