Lake Mills man pleads guilty to promoting prostitution
Published 2:51 pm Saturday, April 9, 2016
A Lake Mills man pleaded guilty on Friday to promoting prostitution in February at a Rochester hotel.
Michael Gardner
Michael Alan Gardner, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of promoting prostitution of an individual and one count of fifth-degree drug possession.
Gardner was arrested after an undercover officer with the Rochester Police Department responded to an online advertisement for a 22-year-old woman offering sexual services.
Gardner was reportedly found in the parking lot responding by phone to the men who wanted to set up appointments from the ad. The woman reportedly told police she had been dropped off at the hotel by Gardner, who controlled the phone attached to her ad.
Gardner was found with a container of methamphetamine in his pocket.
He is slated to be sentenced June 13.
Promoting prostitution carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $40,000 fine.
