Santiago Steven Maese, Utahn Convicted In Prostitution

Santiago Steven Maese was arrested at the Salt Lake County Jail on Thursday for an investigation of the human trafficking of a child.

The chief operations officer of a Utah constable agency, convicted of running a prostitution ring more than a decade ago, has been detained again and accused of paying a teenage girl for sex.

Also Read: Moscow Murders: Who Are Ethan Chapin Siblings Maizie And Hunter? Family And Girlfriend Xana Kernodle

He was arrested on Thursday and charged with human trafficking, rape, aggravated extortion of a child, and five counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

Was Santiago Steven Maese From Utahn Convicted?

Santiago Steven Maese, 45, of southern Jordan, is charged with two counts of child trafficking, a first-degree felony, in the 3rd Circuit Court.

South Jordan Police were summoned to the residence of a teenage girl in August after the child’s guardians learned she had a cellphone they were unaware of.

The affidavit states that “multiple conversations were discovered between Santiago Steven Maese and the female juvenile victim,” some of which “were graphic in sexual content.”

When questioned, the young lady stated, “According to the affidavit, she met Steven “on two separate sites to be paid for relationships,” both at his residence and at his Company. According to the victim, Steven would give her $100 every other time.”

According to investigators, the child reportedly recalled Maese sexually assaulting her at a car dealership.

According to the indictment, the girl claimed Maese took her to his workplace three to four times after hours, where she was sexually assaulted, and another two to three times at this home.

Was He Arrested In Prostitution Ring Case? Charged With Paying Teen For Sex

Maese was convicted on four charges of exploitation of a prostitute and participating in a pattern of illegal behavior in 2008 for running a prostitution ring with escort service Doll House.

Prosecutors referred to Maese as a modern-day “pimp” at the time. In 2010, the Utah Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction.

A sentence of one to fifteen years in prison was suspended, and he was condemned to three years of probation and 60 days in jail.

Maese was charged with some counts of domestic violence in 2019. According to court documents, one was later released, and the other was acquitted.

A jury convicted Maese in July 2008 on charges of running a prostitution ring under the guise of a legitimate business.

However, he vehemently denied in court that he ever told escort service workers to engage in any sexual activity for money.

According to Judge William Thorne Jr., Maese’s appeal was based on his belief that the jury’s instruction was flawed. Maese believed there was inadequate evidence, and the trial court should have stopped the sentence after failing to act on a motion before trial.

Thorne claims that Maese relieved his worries about the unresolved motion by stating that he was prepared to continue at the start of the trial and by approving the jury instructions before they were given.

ncG1vNJzZmiflaO2tr%2FCnqOemqNjsLC5jqyYp6yZlrSwedKtnK%2BdnmK6orHSnmSurJGdu26vzqetopukmrFutc1o