Big Pimpin’ NH Sportswriter Heads to Slammer for Running Prostitution Ring
- Posted on March 19, 2011 at 12:39pm by
Emily Esfahani Smith
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SALEM, Mass. (AP / THE BLAZE) — A veteran New Hampshire sports reporter pleaded guilty Friday to running a prostitution business in Massachusetts featuring women who had auditioned for him and to intimidating a witness in an effort to prevent her from testifying against him.
Kevin Provencher was immediately sentenced to state prison on two counts of deriving support from a prostitute, two counts of procuring a person into prostitution, two counts of solicitation for prostitution and one count of witness intimidation, prosecutors said. Each charge carries a penalty ranging from one to 2 1/2 years in prison. The sentences are to be served concurrently.
Provencher was fined $5,000 and placed on probation for one year after his release. He also was ordered to have no contact with the women who worked for him as prostitutes and to forfeit a computer seized by police, according to a statement released by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office.
Assistant District Attorney Melissa Woodard said in court that prosecutors had enough evidence to prove that Provencher, 52, set up a website soliciting women to work for an escort service he had established, claiming it was run by women. Two women who responded had sex with him before he hired them, she said.
Here is an excerpt of the criminal complaint, which describes the “audition” process of one woman:
Provencher, of Manchester, N.H., advertised prostitution services on Craigslist and other websites, prosecutors said. The complaint states:
He performed background checks on prospective customers to make sure they weren’t police officers, then would rent hotel rooms and provide the women with contact information for the clients. At the end of the day, the women would give Provencher half the money they earned or would deposit it an account he set up, prosecutors said.
The scheme unraveled about a year later after managers at the Marriott Hotel in Andover, Mass., became suspicious and alerted police, prosecutors said.
Provencher was initially arrested in July 2009 on two counts of deriving support from a prostitute. Prosecutors added witness-intimidation and other charges after he told the women who worked for him as prostitutes that his lawyer would “tear them apart” in the media if they spoke to police.
Provencher worked for the New Hampshire Union Leader for 23 years. He no longer works there.
He could not be reached for comment Friday. It was unclear who his legal representation was.
Provencher has won four New Hampshire Sportswriter of the Year awards from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.
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Comments (54)
GCruz
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 8:02pmMarch Madness and Ho’s, what a country.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 7:03pmUMMM how come this guy, Gordon Hintz is not in JAIL then? I didn’t hear much about that? If he was a Republican Rep. who posed with his shirt off, he might even have to RESIGN!!! http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20110228/OSH0101/110228167/State-Rep-Gordon-Hintz-apologizes-comments-made-Assembly-floor-following-budget-repair-bill-vote
Report Post »chickenfried
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 5:42pmNew Hampshire?…LIVE FREE OR DIE, right?
I always wondered if all convicts ended up on death row. Never bothered to check. Probably won’t now.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 7:08pmNH has a death penalty, though RARELY used, the last one in 1939 for Capital murder cases only. The guy on death row now will get off, I’m sure of it.
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 5:02pmLegalize prostitution, test ‘em and tax ’em. Game over!
Report Post »thomas242007
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 3:34pmWhy did they even bust this guy? okay the witness itnimidation i can understand, but if there wasnt any drugs any underage prostituion or pornography going on and it was between consenting adults
Report Post »whats the big problem? i find it kind of gross but if these women are willing to do this kind of work why should i care, sounds like they wanted this pretty bad for some reson otherthan the prostitution ring thing
supertas
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 3:30pmLove the look on the guard’s face behind him, like, “Damn, no way”.
Report Post »JoeyBagaDonuts
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 4:17pmHe was probably a customer.
Report Post »ARIZONA VETERAN
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 3:23pmnext up, JOHN KERRY IN CUFFS FOR TAX EVASION!!!!!
Report Post »Buck_Ofama
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 3:18pmThis guy is from Mass. so I think this must be Laurence O‘Donnell’s half brother or half-wit brother.
Report Post »Why?
Because being a pimp or a whore runs in Larry “The Load” O‘Donnell’s family..
jollylama
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 2:13pmObama is also an award winner
Report Post »ORSO
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 2:11pmSure looks like consenting adults being consenting adults, I don’t see the problem here no matter how icky I find it……..
Report Post »chips1
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 1:58pmUnions are involved in everything it seems. The unemployment numbers increase each time the unions get investigated. One step closser to Obummer?
Report Post »sleazyhippo
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 2:12pmThis gentleman was probably a part of the TV radio personality union, same as Glenn, Rush, Sean, Bill and Sarah. Nice Union!
Report Post »Ozymandias
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 1:56pmI’ve never understood why the government did not legalize prostitution as it already regulates the sexual conduct of those married. When a woman can claim she has been raped by her husband and the husband is charged, there is something terribly wrong with our judicial system. The Courts should have no say with regard to relations in a marriage. Tax and Spend Democrats would certainly want to line their campaign contribution funds with this service industry as once in office, they become prostitutes as well. If it‘s good for the goose it’s good for the gander. Tell me that Obama is not the world’s biggest “Man-whore.”
Report Post »Suprise...a conservative in CA
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 6:47pmOzymandias please crawl back into the cave you spawned from. A women does not become a peace of property once she marries. A marriage is a partnership not a dictatorship. Woman or man nobody should be forced to have sex. Regarding the rest of your post it just seems to me that you are trying to past off as conservative. Sorry, not happening.
Report Post »Suprise...a conservative in CA
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 7:51pmI must apologize to everyone I posted by later thoughts and should of posted this first:
The government does not “regulate” sex for married couples. When a women turns her husband in for rape it is because it is first off wrong and the second illegal. I have yet see police officers come around my neighbor and keeping tabs on everyones sex life.
So that being sad please still go back to the damp black bacteria infested hole you spawned from.
Report Post »LifeProject2012
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 1:51pmJoe Biden would complain that this is another example of the middle class being businessman being wiped out by those prudish religious fanatics…
Were these the jobs the Obama stimulus was saving??
Report Post »Its Gonna Getcha
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 1:51pmDid her provide services for Tiger Woods and other sports guys? Why don’t sports gal get this same service?
Report Post »VforVendetta
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 1:44pmAnother Incredible American Manner
Report Post »temple62
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 1:43pmI didn’t think they were into this kind of fun in NH! Hollywood needs to reverse its stereotypes!
Report Post »FEARLESSLEADER
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 1:43pmCut him some slack… Working for the Union Leader he is probably a big progressive… I would bame G.W. Bush!!!! Sorry I’m just following the playbook…
Report Post »marine249
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 1:34pmthe news is this came out of Mass.
Report Post »i.e. uncle ted
this is one of the most lib of st.
GJPinks
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 1:27pmThis is so unfair! I am sure he was only doing this for the children. Where is ACORN when you need them?
Report Post »concealled9mms
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 1:05pmsounds like a good job for bill clinton a tester yea that would be right up his alley
Report Post »SlimnRanger
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 1:28pmYes i can hear ole Bill saying “ I did not have sexual relations with that woman”
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 12:48pmconcurrently — occurring or existing simultaneously or side by side
To bad it wasn’t consecutively — following one another in uninterrupted succession or order; successive
This way it really doesn’t matter how much he did .. all sentences will be served at once. Concurrently is a JOKE!
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 12:46pmWonder if he really won those awards or did he just trade favors to get them. Consequences for one’s actions strikes again.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 1:08pmGood question, but Provencher needs to learn that prostitution is not a “sport.”
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 1:38pm@Grandmaof5 and Showtime
I saw your earlier post about the one who was against me the other day; thank you both for the support, it is nice to know just how many people will stick togeather here at the Blaze, even when we may disagree at times, it still feels good to have a community stand as one.
Thanks again.
By the way, this guy doing the pimping should have been locked in a cell and the door welded shut; or while behind bars given an introduction to his cell mates of “bubba” and ‘bruno’ while his name is now “doggie.”
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 12:45pmand still no mention of riots in brazil in the lamestream media……………….i wonder why?????
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 12:50pmI too wonder .. where is the MSM regarding the World and their fallen Messiah? lol .. I am certain they have tried to ‘spin” it .. problem is anyway you spin .. it looks bad for B.O…
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 2:53pmYou guys got to be kidding, right? The idiots at the Monumentally Stupid Nazis Broadcasting Comedy station will say, on Monday, that his working vacation was a huge sucess.
Report Post »Mike Whittington
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 12:44pmNow that’s just weird….
Report Post »http://www.ISeeDanger.com
JoeyBagaDonuts
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 1:47pm2 guy’s kissing each other in public and getting married is okay. But somehow a guy and a girl having sex for money in the privacy of a hotel room offends somebody. Why is this illegal? Don’t cops have anything better to do?
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 2:48pmJoeyBag: You from south philly?
Report Post »JoeyBagaDonuts
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 4:09pm@ J.C. McGlynn. Originally Brooklyn.
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 12:41pmSlow news day? Not from what I’ve seen on TV and other Internet forums. Yawn….
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 12:52pmHe can be the the little lady in prison for the other guy. Pay back time!
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 12:52pmAt least this guy is an AWARD winning moron………..
Report Post »Thats A rap
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 1:20pmWe are now entering a re-founding revolution. Our choice of weapon is the freedom of us speakin. We choose to fight in the arena OF THOUGHT and our founders had superior. But now in OUR house they all snub the constitution. Did they swear t…o us to GOD or some sort of alien. If to GOD what a shame but one day they‘ll meet with him and if to us then there LIARS and it’s time for us to replace all them. OUR CONSTITUTION our BILL OF RIGHTS and no interpretation that‘s how we’ll finish this re-founding revolution. So now it’s time for the 28th amendment “No authority can tax a SOVERIGN STATE CITIZEN” It’s also time for OUR state representatives to come back home and start representing them. After that we’ll be headed towards a different place, a place OUR founders intended for the human race. So much HOPE so much CHANGE and new innovation. WE pray to GOD for this re-founding revolution. Hey U.N. we’re sorry for all the confusion, but those treaties that we signed are against OUR CONSTITUION. So what were saying is that it’s time for us to hit the road and that building in New York will be sub-divided into condos… So much HOPE so much CHANGE and new innovation WE pray to GOD for this re-founding REVOLUTION. Rise Up People!!!!!!
http://www.wethepeopleunited.us
Report Post »Creestof
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 1:21pm**ring**ring**
“Hello?”
Report Post »“Yes, is this the Sprtsman Escort service? I want to get laid!”
“Shhh…cops may be listening…we have to talk in code.”
“Code?…But I just want to get…”
“I know, I know. You want to catch the long bomb and run it into the end zone.”
“Huh?”
“You know, do the give and go and pop a 3 point swisher from half court.”
“No, you’re not listening. I just want to…”
“Hit a grandslam over the centerfield wall? Take the checkerd flag and cross the finish line? Head fake the goalie and whip one into the net?”
“Uh,…is there someone else I can speak to?”
J.C. McGlynn
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 1:36pmTo Creestof: Is that a phone call Bill Clinton made? You tapping his phone?
Report Post »sleazyhippo
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 2:06pmExtremely slow news day even for the Blaze – we want liberal union sex stories but there is just too much meaningful Middle East and Japan news out there.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 2:56pmI LOVE the look on the cop’s face! The alleged pimp looks worried, and his attorney looks like her case is going to be hopeless.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 5:42pmgive it a rest..he is just trying to pay for owe bama care…
Report Post »thetreyman
Posted on March 19, 2011 at 6:44pmguess things are tough all over, what with people having to have a 2nd job. he must have needed to make some extra money, anticipating having less to write about when the nfl strikes.
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