Sex-for-tickets trial reaches verdict

College of Liberal and Professional Studies student Susan Finkelstein, 44, was convicted Thursday of attempted prostitution for offering to trade sex with an undercover police officer for Phillies World Series tickets in October. She was found not guilty of prostitution, with which she was also charged.

Finkelstein was arrested Oct. 26 at a restaurant where Bensalem police arranged to meet her after finding an ad she placed on Craigslist. Police testified that she offered an undercover officer sex for one ticket and sex with two men simultaneously for two tickets, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Finkelstein’s lawyer, William J. Brennan, said the jury deliberated from about 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

“For a relatively short trial, that’s a long time to be out. The trial was one day, and they were out half a day,” he said.

According to prosecuting District Attorney Steven Jones the defense’s case was composed of character witnesses as well as Finkelstein and her husband.

On the other side, Jones explained, “our argument was that all the facts supported the charges — the evidence pointed to prostitution.”

Jones, who said he and the District Attorney’s office of Bucks County stand by the charges, said in order to be convicted of prostitution, there needs to be an action that “meets the element of prostitution.”

“The jury found that she intended to prostitute herself and took a substantial step towards prostituting herself,” Jones said. “They believed the crime of attempted prostitution was a sufficient crime.”

Attempted prostitution, a third-degree misdemeanor, has a maximum sentence of one year.

“We respect the jury’s verdict and respectfully disagree,” Brennan said. “We will file post-verdict motions that could get the charges dismissed, get a new trial or appeal to a higher court.”

Finkelstein’s sentencing has yet to be scheduled.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.