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Woman gets 90 days for prostitution

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

Tuesday, Dec 18, 2007 - 02:58:42 pm CST

An Omaha woman has been sentenced to jail for prostitution.

Dawn Beckett, 30, was charged with prostitution after she traveled to Lincoln to meet an undercover officer for sex at an airport hotel in July.

According to court records, an undercover Lincoln officer contacted women advertising companionship on national and regional Web sites. Beckett responded and agreed to meet at a Lincoln hotel, for $300 an hour.

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In his sentencing order, County Court Judge Gale Pokorny said any ambiguity over the definition of companionship disappeared when the officer put $300 cash on the bed stand and Beckett took off all of her clothes.

On Nov. 6, she pleaded guilty.

Pokorny said imposing a fine, in his opinion, would have “absolutely no deterrent effect whatsoever. A fine is simply a cost of doing business as usual.”

Beckett boasts of making $2,000 a week and $60,000 a year as a prostitute, he said. Despite being a convicted felon, she appears to have the ability to earn a legitimate living.

“She just doesn’t choose to do so,” he wrote.

She told Pokorny she has taken steps to ensure this won’t happen again, but he said he has reservations about her veracity. Despite the arrest, he said, she continues to advertise herself on national and regional Web sites and appears to have expanded her market to Lincoln.

Her children ought to have a better chance in life, he said.

“Ultimately this court has little to no control over how Ms. Beckett elects to make a living, save one. If Ms. Beckett expects to continue to travel to this community to sell sex, that decision will have consequences,” Pokorny wrote.

He sentenced her to 90 days in jail.


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Who Cares... wrote on December 18, 2007 2:27 pm:
" Who is she hurting? Why is this illegal and smoking legal? One pollutes the environment, the other really doesn't hurt anyone does it? "

 Cindy wrote on December 18, 2007 2:27 pm:
" interesting...so how exactly was this woman harming the citizens of Lincoln? I'd rather see my tax money spent elsewhere. Let her do her business; the police are the ones who made the connection and set her up. "

 it's amusing wrote on December 18, 2007 2:53 pm:
" what we have deemed it legitimate to criminalize - consensual sex amongst adults "

 James wrote on December 18, 2007 3:31 pm:
" Was the officer arrested for Pandering? Or Solicitation? Or Fraud since he entered into a verbal contract with her? Of all the problems in this city with gang violence, domestic abuse and illegal immigration, do the police really have the time to spend on line setting up and catching some small time operator like this gal? And didn't the officer in charge actually invite and encourage this woman to enter Lincoln to do her business? Perhaps if we don't want this activity in the Star City, then the local authorities should not lure her into town with promises of an easy $300.00. I've always had a problem with the police encouraging a crime to be committed and then waving their subsequent arrest and conviction like a flag of honor. There have got to be bigger issues to deal with. "

 crazy wrote on December 18, 2007 3:45 pm:
" 0we write the laws and pay for entrapping violators. Sounds like job security. We are fighting a war on ourselves "

 Just an average citizen wrote on December 18, 2007 4:06 pm:
" The oldest profession in history will never go away, even if you sentence them to 90 days. Now look who you are hurting.... her kids! Great decision judge~ I say take door #2 with all the money.... instead of door #1 with the mule. Maybe watch Judge Judy and take some notes. "

 Gross wrote on December 18, 2007 4:16 pm:
" She's spreading STD's. She hurts everyone by her actions & choices. "

 LincolnMan wrote on December 18, 2007 4:20 pm:
" WOW - Lincoln SURE does have its priorities, eh? I mean, the cops can surf the web and find prostitutes (I am *SURE* that is the most sought after position!!!) But they can't stop kids from stealing hand guns, can't FIND the guns. Yeah, a discrete prostitute is WAAAAAY more important! "

 Nina wrote on December 18, 2007 4:51 pm:
" Who Cares, prostitution pollutes one's self-worth, that of the prostitute and also of the 'customer.' Research has shown that most prostitutes have a background of childhood sexual abuse - they have been shown from an age too early to understand that they are 'commodities.' How would you like your mother, wife or daughter to feel that way? Add the risk of venereal disease, violence, etc. that sometimes accompanies this activity, and claiming it doesn't hurt anyone is ridiculous. "

 What a joke wrote on December 18, 2007 5:19 pm:
" It is no different then an NFL, NBA, or MLB player being a commodity. She was lured into making a business transaction for services to be rendered on agreement of payment. If she willing is doing this without misleading the customer, theft, or deceit then no there isn't anything wrong with it. If two willing and consensual adults want to exchange their assests for one or the other as long as it is not a controlled substance I see no reason she should be prevented from doing what she wants with her own body. It is no different then selling your body to a pharmaceutical company for a weekend to get a little cash to let someone play around with what is rightfully yours to do with. Just look at Germany where prostitution is legal and regulated. After regulating and legalizing it they helped to clean up their city streets and the lifes of thousands of women who had to live below poverty lives just to make ends meet. This is no different then the adult entertainment industry. What you do with your own body is your own business. "

 Use Me wrote on December 18, 2007 5:23 pm:
" As a Christian, I support the judge who charged this woman. Being one who has seen many big cities, prostitution and crime rates running wild. It is good to see small towns that harbor good- they are needed for the sake of keeping the idea of family alive for the rest of the world.- you don't know how valuable small city life is. "

 Johnny D. wrote on December 18, 2007 8:24 pm:
" For a moment I had to check if this was a news story from Tehran or Kabul. But no, just another fine example of the ignorant, repressive and essentially uptight society we still live in. First this arrangement would have been a totally victimless "crime", second this LEO operation is another entrapment scheme for PR and quotas when the time and manpower should of course be spent on actual crimes, and third prohibiting this livelihood is blatantly unconstitutional. I have been to places such as the Netherlands where no one has any problem with a very normal aspect of human existence. It is regulated and patrolled without any problems. Interesting that they are generations ahead of us as more mature and wise societies, while we trumpet all our alleged "Freedoms and Liberty" which in actuality fall far short, the words becoming mere slogans to rally the masses. "

 Cindy wrote on December 18, 2007 9:32 pm:
" sex work does not have to be marginalized, it's all in how we choose to think on the topic. if we regulated sex work, as someone mentioned is done in Germany, it could be safe--for the workers and those who choose to pay for services. People should read Carol Queen and Pat(rick) Califia. Sex work is just another job. Better to make women and men who do it safe, then to act like arrests such as these will keep people from it. "

 It Is A Big Deal wrote on December 18, 2007 10:45 pm:
" Prostitution is a big deal, it's against the law. It's immoral. It's degrading to women and the men who hire them. It correlates with drugs and crime. It spread STD's to innocent victims. The list goes on and on why prostitution is a big deal and the negative impact it has on society. Keep up the great work LPD! "

 whatever wrote on December 19, 2007 5:01 am:
" I doubt this woman is any different than any number of women hanging out at the country bars, only she is getting paid cash. Her behaviour probably doesn't spread any more disease than your average "pick up" at the aforementioned. This is a waste of judicial and law enforcement resources. "

 kelso wrote on December 19, 2007 5:09 am:
" IT IS AGAINST THE LAW PEOPLE!!! Law enforcement officers don't make the laws, they just enforce them. They can't pick and choose which ones to enforce. Don't criticize their tactics, just be happy they are getting this off the streets of Lincoln. "

 Let's Pick & Choose wrote on December 19, 2007 5:32 am:
" So do you people think it's alright to just pick and choose which laws to follow??? She broke the law! End of story. Now, if you don't agree with the EXISTING LAW - then go do something about that - but you can't and shouldn't pick and choose which laws to enforce because that will be the next thing you grip about --- oh wait - that is what you are complaining about -- apparently you rate your crimes - well, yes, some crimes rate a higher degree than others but the bottom line is, you break the law, you pay the price!!! "

 Terry wrote on December 19, 2007 6:38 am:
" Another example of the "business friendly" environment in Lincoln! "

 Just moved to Lincoln wrote on December 19, 2007 7:29 am:
" WOW! Great job LPD. In the last city I lived in prostitution was everywhere and it contributed to gangs, drugs, and unhealthy lifestyles. For those that don't understand criminology - you can't overlook the small crimes otherwise the it will blossom into a large crime. I can't even comment about the uneducated response about arresting the officer for pandering, etc. That comment makes everyone a little less intelligent. I really enjoy this city and obviously most of you don't know how good you have it. Is there a class I should take to learn how to whine? It seems like everyone just whines about everything here. Is there a whine class at UNL or SCC? I'll check online later. "

 Seriously? wrote on December 19, 2007 7:37 am:
" I wonder if this judge considered that it is nearly impossible for a convicted felon to truly get "legitimate" work. Most companies will not hire anyone with a record. Perhaps her record was the result of a mistake made at a younger age and she is now trying to do the best she can with limited options...perhaps the best she can FOR her children. "

 Legalize it wrote on December 19, 2007 8:39 am:
" I cannot we are wasting our resources on this. Go get the drug dealers, the gang bangers, the people who run red lights. All of these are more horrilbe crimes than this. "

 Nina wrote on December 19, 2007 9:17 am:
" No, it is not the same as being a pro football player or participating in a medical study. All receive pay, but a football player trades the punishment to his body for glory, and the medical test enrollee knows his efforts are likely to benefit others and may even save lives. All the prostitute has to go along with her money is shame, fear, self-disgust, and a feeling of worthlessness. "

 Stacey wrote on December 19, 2007 9:36 am:
" Wow, everyone does realize that prostitution is illegal, right? Whether or not there are "bigger" crimes being committed, this is still a crime and should be punished. To those of you who think nobody gets hurt: what about the wife at home waiting for her husband to get home only to catch a disease from him that he caught from a prostitute? Was she consenting in this relationship? NO. What about the young women that see this as their ONLY way to make money? This is not something you do once or twice and walk away from, it becomes a way of life and not one that women are usually proud of. If the option weren't there or if it became too risky, maybe they'd figure out another way that wouldn't demoralize them. Thank you LPD for DOING YOUR JOB and arresting people who commit crimes! Thank you for not concentrating on only on the "big crimes" because if you do, it would become oh so easy for everyone to commit these "small crimes." "

 JR wrote on December 19, 2007 10:25 am:
" For those of you who think prostitution is degrading, why is that so? Is it so because you think the woman has a low self esteem problem? Any woman who charges $300 an hour seems to be filled with confidence. Or is it because of American's obsession with sex and repressing it? Instead of admitting sex is natural, healthy and enjoyable, we hide it in the closet. We would rather our children see 20 people shot to death on television or movie dramas every night then they see even a hint of Janet Jackson's breast. The Puritans are losing the war. It is time to educate the masses and take away the stigma that sex is dirty. "

 ORLY? wrote on December 19, 2007 10:39 am:
" Where does the assumption she has STDs come from? Maybe she does. Do you know? "

 Make it Legal wrote on December 19, 2007 10:54 am:
" Legalize prostitution so it can be controlled. Require prostitutes to have yearly medical exams, etc. I'll bet lots of married women would love to have their husbands visit a prostitute instead of them having a girlfriend on the side. "

 lets not forget wrote on December 19, 2007 10:56 am:
" the men that have been paying her for this. Yes, maybe she was abused as a child, maybe she has a hard life and has some issues that she shoved deep down so she can survive. Most people forget that she became a hooker because men paid her to do this. Drive downtown Omaha some night and you will see all the old rich sickos out trolling for sex, now that is GROSS. "

 Kas wrote on December 19, 2007 11:12 am:
" I doubt if she's "paying the price".90 days @$150/day?Who's paying the price?Taxpayers are!She gets 90 days off which will actually amount to 70 days if no write ups.Out at LCF?thats a vacation if her life is misery as some posters seem to think. "

 CS wrote on December 19, 2007 11:22 am:
" How many of you speaking for the feelings of prostitutes have been one or done this? If you haven't then you have no frame of reference or right to claim the high road by projecting what you 'think' they feel. The negative results of prostitution in the US are because we as a country think sex needs to be wrapped up in some sort of honor and glory to god framework or some higher idealism instead of acknowledging that humans as a species have a baser biological instinct. I've been to countries in Europe where this is taxed and legalized-and amazingly enough they don't have many of the problems that we have here by keeping it underground. In the US it IS legal in some jurisdictions in Nevada, and I would doubt that the practitioners would support your view of things, as they are considerably wealthy, healthy, and well taken care of while in practice, and free to set their own prices for their interactions as entrepreneurs. I also question the self esteem issues raised by some poster's here as a direct result of prostitution-it is a byproduct of there being no regulation and of the moralistic culture we live in that can't be content with just not practicing things, watching things, seeing things, or doing things that they don't agree with, but have to make sure that no one else does either. "

 Alan wrote on December 19, 2007 12:06 pm:
" Our tax dollars at work! Trolling the internet looking for sex-workers and LPD gets paid to do this? I'll remember Pokorny's name when election time rolls around. How dare anyone suppose to judge this woman. Unless you have lived her life you have nothing to say about her choice of occupation. "

 Katie wrote on December 19, 2007 12:15 pm:
" This is an interesting story with even more interesting comments! In my opinion, yes prostitution is against the law, but why bring a prostitute from Omaha to Lincoln...are there no prostitutes in Lincoln? I also agree that the LPD may have bigger fish to fry, there are alot more crimes that have a greater negative effect to this community. Not to say that one crime is better or worse than the other, however, there seems to be bigger problems in Lincoln other than the prostitutes. It is funny to see the mention of STD's as a threat to this community from the abundant prostitution population, I think that there are more STD's on the UNL campus than all of Lincoln's working girls combined. "Gross, if you don't want an STD don't sleep with her, practice safe sex! Come on people, There are bigger problems in Lincoln! Has anyone been to the Mission to see the homeless LINCOLN children that will not have a Christmas this year, Taxpayer dollars??? "

 Charlie wrote on December 19, 2007 12:33 pm:
" I like the Proverb that warns against having sex with prostitutes... While it may seem like honey to the lips, it'll turn out to be gravel in the mouth. Good Job LPD "

 taxpayer wrote on December 19, 2007 12:51 pm:
" How many prostitutes out there do you think pay honest taxes? I don't care what she does to earn money. If I have to have money taken from my honestly earned paycheck, then so does she! The only way to do that is to regulate it, and I'm sorry, but there are much better things to spend our time and money regulating. What she does to earn a living is illegal, whether it is immoral or not. And the fact that she has kids should not even wager in on the sentance. "

 Laurisa wrote on December 19, 2007 2:26 pm:
" I say if this woman cares to prostitue herself for money that is her choice. The men and women that sleep with her they have to to deal with there own self worth. I feel sorry for her children, yes, but is she endangering them by doing it in their home, we are unsure, but I say if she is not putting her children in harms way, and she is not endangering anyone but herself, and the people that choose to have sexual contact with her, let her be. 90 days in jail wont teach her anything, once she is out she'll just go back to doing it again. "

 Awesome Dude wrote on December 19, 2007 10:08 pm:
" You people have got to be kidding me! You are defending a prostitute, probabley because you use one all of the time and now you are angry because you might get caught "

 whatever! wrote on December 19, 2007 10:16 pm:
" When will our society see things from a realistic view instead of the controlling, judgemental, and overall overbearing way we do today. Everyone who has a job is a prostitute in very simple sense of the word. We all sell parts of our bodies to service others, usually making the 1% ers a ton of money. If you have an "intellectual" job, then you are selling your knowledge and brain functions, construction and manual labor, do this for long enough and your body gives out. So some lady decides there is a business opportunity selling services in which she uses other parts of her body, oh well. I also have a real problem with the extent the arms of the law are allowed today. Just because they use a computer, they are allowed to entrap many people for many different types of crimes. Has anyone ever wondered just how much of these crimes would be commited if there weren't people (police) out there looking for it, or in this case, even offering and laying the money on the table. Come on, fifteen years ago that would be entrapment plain and simple, but today cause we have been taught to fear everything, and that plain sex in general is just as bad as murder, well I guess you all agree with there not being laws for the enforcers to follow. So I have a question, just who watches the "watchers" today. This is starting to look like communist China more and more everyday, all in the name of being afraid of the boogeyman. "

 Nate wrote on December 19, 2007 10:39 pm:
" Um... Prostitution is not a good thing for a community. The majority of prostitutes do it because they need money for drugs, and the effects spiral from there... If you think it's such a good idea, why don't you take a look at North Omaha and see how well it's working for them... "

 Build more jails? wrote on December 19, 2007 11:30 pm:
" House arrest with an electronic ankle monitor would serve the same purpose as jail but would be far less expensive and, at the same time, allow her to take care of her children. Save the jail cells for the real threats to society. "

 Sarah wrote on December 20, 2007 12:13 am:
" Pick ups from country bars... Hummmm?? Do you speak from experience? I venture to bet you could include the down town "meat markets" in your mileau. Oh, but then you would have to include the pastor caught with the church secretary, the business trip to the city with ads on Craigslist for hookups between meetings, etc. STDs are mutating and becoming more difficult to control, let alone cure. This bimbo can rot with them for all I care, but don't want them "polluting the environment" for my children/grandchildren. Don't want my taxes paying for treatment of aforementioned diseases for individuals who PAY NO TAXES for their career of choice, as I would highly doubt she's carrying any insurance, other than what NE Medicaid is more than likely providing for her children. Whole 'nother can of worms... "

 a citazen wrote on December 20, 2007 12:21 am:
" Prostitution, morals, marriage, monogamy, adultery, polygamy. You figure it out. How realistic is it to teach our son to find a loyal and faithful wife and companion and then also state in the next breath "but it's okay to visit a prostitute for a little added fun". Would you want your daughter married to that kind of man? or would you raise your daughter with the idea of a marriage and family life but its ok to sell yourself on the side for extra money as long as its consensual. "

 bob wrote on December 21, 2007 6:40 am:
" Well, What's the website??? "

 Its nasty wrote on June 30, 2008 9:59 am:
" If their are kids involved,it is wrong.How do you explain it to them(or just hide it)from EVERYONE!!!!!! "

 Informed wrote on October 11, 2008 10:07 pm:
" All these are interesting and valid points, except for maybe the inarticulate, "eww gross" ones. I can see both sides. I have to say I have seen both sides, personally. The assumption that she has std's are absurd, first of all. Second of all, who's to say how she feels about her career of choice. I have read more about this woman and found out she did pay her taxes, was on PTA, spent the summer with her children, was home to send her children off to school and pick them up and fix dinner for them and help them with their homework each night. She was a single mother of 3. She was a full time student while doing all of this, trying to attain her goals in a society that makes it almost impossible for a single mother. Also, she was NEVER on State benefits according to her files. It looks like she weighed her options and just chose to do the most efficient. I can see where morals would come into play. The husbands she may have laid with and the danger she could have put herself in as well. I guess the major problem is the economy, honestly. Why else would she choose to do this? With 3 children, I imagine with a traditional job, she would basically be paying to work. If she had to work multiple jobs, who would ensure her kids were raised properly? America is in dire straits all around if you ask me. "

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