Metro Briefs

DISTRICT

Ex-Senate aide sentenced for kid porn

A former Senate aide has been sentenced to three years in prison for possessing child pornography.

James Michael McHaney, 28, of the District, was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court, the U.S. attorney’s office said. He was fired from his job as a scheduler for Sen. Maria Cantwell, Washington Democrat, after his arrest last year.

McHaney tried to arrange a sexual encounter with a 13-year-old boy last November, prosecutors said. Police later found child pornography in his car and home.

He was first charged with attempting to sexually exploit a minor, but pleaded guilty in February to a reduced charge of possession of child pornography.

Besides prison time, McHaney was sentenced to serve 10 years of supervised release.

MARYLAND

BALTIMORE

Brothel shut; women brought from Mexico

Police said they closed a brothel that used Mexican women imported into the country through Durham, N.C.

A raid last month resulted in the arrest of Carlos Silot, 39, and two suspected prostitutes. Women in the prostitution ring worked seven days before they were returned to Durham and exchanged for new sex workers, according to court documents.

The three were charged with misdemeanors and were released on bail pending a November court hearing.

Maryland has strengthened its human-trafficking statute for child prostitutes, changing the crime from a misdemeanor to a felony, said Assistant State’s Attorney Joyce Lombardi, who helped form the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force last year. However, Miss Lombardi said the charge for adults operating prostitution rings is pandering, a misdemeanor.

VIRGINIA

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