Patrick Geho, the Public Relations Director of Washington County, has found himself embroiled in controversy following his arrest on charges of engaging in prostitution and possession of criminal tools, allegations arising from an undercover operation by Ohio's Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, as reported by WTAE. The Task Force claims Geho responded to a staged advertisement which was part of their efforts to curtail human trafficking.
In a crackdown that netted two arrests last week, Geho was apprehended after allegedly making plans to purchase sexual services from some "females;" Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost emphasized the pernicious cycle fueled by such illicit dealings, stating, "The criminal behavior of coercion and extortion fuels the demand for human trafficking and continues the cycle. Without demand, traffickers don’t have clients and don’t need victims," in a press release cited by WPXI.
Washington County Commissioner Larry Maggi, in an interview with WTAE, voiced his dismay at being left in the dark and learning about Geho's charges only late Monday night. "We should have been notified by Mr. Geho that there was some issues," he stated, as per WTAE. With Geho now out on bail, the Washington County Board of Commissioners confronts a troubling situation, with chairman Nick Sherman saying, "It's an active investigation and we are not commenting until we have more details," as the next steps for the county and Geho's professional fate hang in balance.
