West Virginia Sen Charged With Soliciting Prostitute Whose Home Was Covered In Human Feces

Authorities have charged Republican West Virginia Sen. Mike Maroney with soliciting a prostitute.

The West Virginia senator himself in to authorities Wednesday and was arraigned Wednesday morning, a Marshall County court clerk said, according to the Associated Press. Maroney pleaded guilty to charges of soliciting a prostitute and paid a bond of $4,500.

Maroney allegedly sent text messages, arranged prices and sent pictures to a woman who has admitted she is a prostitute. The prostitute reportedly told Maroney she would not meet up with him unless he sent her a picture, and he sent her a picture of himself smiling with the caption, “now can I stop by.”

Police are investigating Cortnie Clark, a woman who is involved in two other cases of prostitution. Authorities discovered “an unimaginable amount” of human feces and urine in Clark’s home, as well as used condoms and uncapped hypodermic needles, according to the AP.

Clark, who has been charged, told authorities that she engaged in prostitution so she could buy heroin. On one occasion, she told Maroney before they met that her house was messy. The West Virginia senator reportedly told her he did not care about the mess.

Allegations against Maroney are “deeply disturbing,” said West Virginia Senate President Mitch Carmichael in a statement, according to the AP.

Meanwhile, West Virginia Democratic Chairwoman Belinda Biafore called for Maroney to lose his position in the Senate.