Police: Adviser ran prostitute raffle

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A college adviser and a real estate agent joined together to hold a raffle that offered an evening with a prostitute who is also a child sex-abuse caseworker, police said.

The operation was organized through the Web site Craigslist.com, where several hundred customers posted comments about prostitutes they had hired.

Christopher S. Johnson, 33, an academic adviser at Ohio State University's School of Nursing, organized the chat board and the raffle, police said.

Rusty Blades, a 42-year-old real estate agent, held an invitation-only party in October for the men and a group of prostitutes at one of his houses, police said. The men bought $10 raffle tickets for a chance to spend time with one of the prostitutes.

Both Johnson and Blades were charged with promoting prostitution. A judge set bail Saturday at $50,000 for Blades and $25,000 for Johnson.

A message seeking comment was left Monday with Blades' attorney Richard Wetzel. A woman who answered the phone at Johnson's home Monday said he was not available.

The prostitute was 31-year-old Vanise Dunn, an employee at Franklin County Children Services since 2000, said Columbus Police Vice Detective Jeffrey Ackley.

Her attorney, Scott Kossoudji, said he could not comment because he did not know enough about the case yet.