When you can’t trust an escort, who can you trust? Read the sad story at Montana’s News Station…

Woman to be sentenced for blackmailing Bozeman developer

A woman who pleaded guilty to blackmailing a prominent Bozeman developer over an alleged prostitution ring under investigation by the FBI is scheduled for sentencing this week.

Shannon Clark, 36, of Bozeman told U.S. District Judge Justin Quackenbush that she had an affair with William Martel for four years, during which time he was financially generous, helping her pay rent and other bills. After Martel ended the relationship in June 2008, Clark threatened to tell the FBI about the money and sex unless he gave her $10,000 a month for six months.

Clark faces up to a year in prison, an additional year of supervision and up to $100,000 in fines when she is sentenced on September 17.

Clark’s attorney, Morgan Modine of Missoula, is seeking a probationary sentence, saying a friend of Clark’s who was working with the FBI encouraged Clark to ask Martel for money. That friend was also reportedly involved with Martel intimately after he broke off the affair with Clark.

Martel has never been charged. Federal officials would not say if the investigation into the prostitution ring continues.

Read the whole story at KFBB.com…

Gayle Morris Speaks Out On Alleged Prostitution Ring

The former of mayor of Great Falls is speaking out after being charged with felony promotion of prostitution. He faced the judge Friday, along with four other other employees of Really Windy’s Bar, the gentlemen’s club that Morris owns.

According to court documents, informants told authorities that Morris knew prostitution was going on at the bar. One informant states that Morris told her not to discuss prostitution on the floor, but rather to wait until in a private dance room, and that a good way to broach the subject of price was to tell them they could tip for the services provided.

Morris though denies those allegations. He says each dancer pays to use the facility for dancing, and that there’s a facility use form that specifically goes over Montana statutes against prostitution.

The former mayor also stated he’s never seen any illegal acts going on at Really Windy’s, and that he’s never received any money from illegal activities.

Morris adds, “People are making accusations against me. I don’t even know who they are. So it’s hard for me to respond to that, but I would like to know who they are and I’d like to have them tell me just exactly what was that process, and how much money did I get? And how much money did they get? And have they repeated all that to the IRS? And are they going to arrest them for prostitution if they step forward and give us all that information?”

Read all the details at The Great Falls Tribune…

Exotic dancers charged with prostitution
By ZACHARY FRANZ

At least two exotic dancers who performed at Really Windy’s Lounge outside Great Falls have been charged with prostitution, and newly released court documents suggest owner and former Great Falls Mayor Gayle Morris supervised a sex-for-money enterprise at the lounge.

A warrant authorizing a search of Really Windy’s in May accuses Morris by name.

“All of the evidence and statements support a finding that a prostitution business operated, owned, controlled, managed, supervised, or otherwise kept by (Gayle) Morris with the participation of the dancers and other staff (is) being run at Really Windy’s Lounge,” the warrant states.

Morris did not return messages left Wednesday evening at his home and at Really Windy’s, but told the Tribune after the May search that he was not aware of prostitution going on at the lounge.

Law enforcement officers from several agencies searched the lounge and questioned dancers on May 27, but made no arrests at the time. Officials did not release the search warrant for several weeks after that because it contained information that could have compromised the ongoing investigation, said Kory Larsen, a deputy county attorney.

Since the search, misdemeanor prostitution charges have been filed against two dancers.

According to the warrant, officers had been getting information over the past two years from informants, undercover officers and private citizens suggesting that prostitution was going on at Really Windy’s.

Read the whole story at The Billings Gazette…

Woman pleads guilty to blackmailing developer

A woman pleaded guilty Friday to blackmailing a prominent Bozeman developer over an alleged prostitution ring under investigation by the FBI.

Shannon Michelle Clark, a 36-year-old Bozeman resident, told U.S. District Judge Justin Quackenbush that she had a sexual relationship with William Martel for four years, during which time he paid her rent and some other bills with cash and business proceeds from his construction company, Martel Construction.

After Martel ended the relationship in June 2008, Clark threatened to tell the FBI about the money and sex unless he provided her with “severance pay” of $10,000 a month for six months.

“He asked me to lie to the FBI about our relationship being sexual,” Clark said.

Martel, who is the namesake of Bobcat Stadium’s Martel Field at Montana State University, knew he was under investigation and asked Clark to tell the FBI he helped her out financially because she was a “struggling single mother,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Racicot.

Racicot said in court the FBI was investigating “whether or not there was a prostitution ring operating in Bozeman and if William Martel was a client of that ring.” He also said the FBI has interviewed Martel, who is a Bozeman community leader.

Martel did not immediately respond to a request for comment.