In one of the first undercover prostitution stings of the year, Northern Colorado law enforcement officers made nine arrests and rescued one at-risk youth in Johnstown.

The arrests were made on January 5, although many of the people involved in the sting have already been let go. During the operation, officers posed as solicitors, responding to ads on escort websites for prostitutes. No solicitors were arrested in the sting,

You might think it’s okay if a worker at a legitimate business such as a strip club or massage parlor offers to perform a sexual act for you in exchange for money. After all – especially in the case of strip clubs – aren’t they practically doing that already?

But paying or getting paid for a sexual act is never legal.

A 55-year-old Colorado Springs woman was recently