Parked car leads to prostitute arrest
GUILDERLAND While officers have said the crime is rare in Guilderland, for the second time in three months, police have arrested someone for taking money for sex.
Nieves M. Fernandez, 49, was arrested on Nov. 24, for prostitution, a misdemeanor.
A sergeant saw a car parked in an empty lot, at Arcadia and Western avenues in McKownville, and thought the couple inside looked suspicious, said Guilderland Police Investigator Emanuel Shulman.
After questioning a man in the car, Shulman said, "It became evident what was going on."
Police determined that Fernandez offered oral sex to the man for $20, Shulman said. The mans identity is being withheld by police and Fernandez could not be reached for comment.
"This isn’t her first indiscretion," Shulman said of Fernandez, although she has never been arrested in Guilderland before. She lives at 13 Sherman St., Albany, the arrest report says.
Asked why the man wasnt arrested for soliciting prostitution, Shulman said he didnt know.
"It’s possible he cooperated with the officer," he said.
In September, police arrested Nicole Knight, 25, for prostitution, but did not charge her client, Michael Iwanos, for soliciting. He, too, admitted to paying for sex.
Guilderland Police said then that Knight, who works for Wild Orchids, a Schenectady escort service, charged Iwanos $100 for oral sex, at the Best Western hotel in McKownville.
Guilderland Police were led to Best Western after a traffic stop. After midnight on Sept. 1, said Guilderland Lieutenant Carol Lawlor, officers pulled over a car and Knight was a passenger. Knight appeared to be impaired by drugs, Lawlor said, and she told police that she knew there were drugs in Room 236 of the hotel. Police investigated and found Iwanos in that room.
Police found a bag of white powder, believed to be cocaine, and other related items, under the mattress of the bed, the arrest report said. Iwanos was then charged with possession of cocaine.
A spokesperson of Wild Orchids told The Enterprise then that Knight was fired. She said that employees of the escort service sign contracts agreeing not to engage in illegal activity.
Fernandezs occupation is listed on her arrest report as DSS, or Department of Social Services. Shulman said hes not sure if she works for the department or if she receives benefits from it.
Fernandez was scheduled to appear in Guilderland Town Court on Dec. 1, but she did not show up. Another court date will be scheduled.
