Former Pine Island Man Admits to Prostitution Charge

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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A former Pine Island man has entered a guilty plea to a charge stemming from a crackdown on prostitution activity in Rochester last year.

30-year-old Justin Hitt, who now has a Mankato address, was among the six men who were arrested as a result of a "sting" investigation conducted by the Rochester Police Department in November 2022. He and the other men were accused of responding to an ad that was posted on various websites known to be used by people seeking the services of prostitutes. The charges alleged all of the men were taken into custody and charged after they came to a Rochester hotel after arranging to meet with a person they believed was a prostitute.

Hitt entered a guilty plea to a gross misdemeanor charge of engaging in prostitution as a customer. He was sentenced to two years on probation and was ordered to pay fines and fees that totaled nearly $1600.

Another man charged in the investigation, 27-year-old Arnaldo Mercado-Perez, is currently scheduled to stand trial on the same charge next week.