Two people were charged Friday in Freeborn County District Court in connection with a prostitution sting conducted last week by the Albert Lea Police Department to prevent sex trafficking. 

Randall Richard Grilz, 64, of Sheffield, Iowa, is charged with felony engaging in, hiring or agreeing to hire a minor to engage in prostitution. Kurt Allen Roderick, 57, of Wixom, Michigan, is charged with gross misdemeanor prostitution in a public place.

Court documents state Grilz and Roderick were arrested separately after Albert Lea officers set up an undercover sex trafficking operation Thursday at a hotel in Albert Lea.

An online advertisement was set up with a phone number listed, which rang to a decoy phone answered by law enforcement. Grilz reportedly called the phone number listed in the ad, and he arrived at a hotel room Thursday afternoon.

Court documents state two decoys told Grilz that one of them was only 17 and her services would cost extra. He allegedly placed $300 in an envelope on a nightstand, undressed and laid down naked on a bed before he was arrested.

In a Mirandized statement, Grilz reportedly admitted that he had seen the ad and made the agreement with the decoys, but he claimed the younger girl never told him how old she was, and he denied hearing she was 17.

Court documents state a decoy met Roderick in the hotel lobby the same day and led him to the hotel room, which was set up for the undercover operation. Roderick allegedly placed $270 in cash in an envelope on the nightstand and undressed to his underwear before being arrested. Officers reportedly found a bottle of lubricant and two condoms during a search of Roderick’s clothing.

Grilz pleaded not guilty Friday. A settlement conference is scheduled for Feb. 15, and a jury trial is scheduled for May 23, if the case has not been settled by then.

Roderick’s next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 12.

A third person arrested in connection with the sting, Roger Petzel, had not been charged as of Friday afternoon.