Cumberland County church pastor accused of patronizing prostitutes at massage parlor - ABC27

[Jared Weaver]

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — A Cumberland County church pastor was charged Friday with prostitution offenses amid an investigation into trafficking at massage parlors in the county.

Stephen Melton, 65, of Mechanicsburg, is accused of paying for sex from a worker from GL Massage Spa, according to the charging documents filed by the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office.

Melton is a preacher at Big Spring Presbyterian Church in Newville, according to the charges. The church’s website shows that he began working there on Oct. 31, 2022.

Investigators say Melton chose to go to that massage parlor more than 68 times over the course of five months because it was convenient for him when he was going to work. The church is about 15 miles from the spa, which is now listed as permanently closed.

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Police say Melton was spotted by undercover agents working a prostitution sting leaving the business with a worker and leaving in a vehicle. It was noted in the charges Melton would take his wedding ring off and he would bring in different items to the business.

After he was questioned, investigators say Melton allegedly confessed to paying the worker money in exchange for sex acts. He also claimed that he was concerned about the workers being trafficked and he would leave them “flowers, food and clothing.”

Melton faces a felony charge of patronizing a victim of sexual servitude and a misdemeanor charge of patronizing prostitutes.

He is out on unsecured bail set at $10,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 15.

The DA’s Office announced Tuesday the arrest of 22 people in connection with multiple trafficking sting operations, leading to search warrants being served at GL Massage and Li’s Asian Massage. So far at least 85 people have been arrested by the county’s Human Trafficking Task Force.