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A Pastor, A Judge, And An Actor Walk Into A Prostitution Sting…

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Joshua Gill Religion Reporter
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Police arrested a Broadway actor, a county circuit judge and a pastor in a prostitution sting, along with three other men at a Florida hotel.

The six men sprang the trap Feb. 9 at a hotel in Naples, Fla., when they individually made contact with an undercover officer via cellphone and arranged to pay her between $150 and $300 for sexual acts, according to USA Today.  The sting operation caught Broadway actor Patrick Boll, pastor Richard Cecil, and Lee county circuit Judge Jay Rosman, who was also charged with resisting arrest.

Boll was performing the roles of Captain Orton and Sir Edward Ramsey in a Feb. 7-11 production of “The King & I” at the time of his arrest and performed those roles for at least one more showing after his arrest. Boll has also starred in “The Good Wife” and “Gossip Girl,” as well as several movies.

Cecil is a former pastor of The Father’s House in Fort Myers, but now runs a ministry from his home with his wife and often visits and preaches in churches in other states. Cecil also opened the Lee County Commissioner’s meeting in prayer during 2005 and 2006.

“It’s just shocking that it happens in our neighborhood and that people who you think are good community members are doing this sort of thing,” Cecil’s neighbor, Susan Rugle, told NBC.

Rosman resigned from his position as circuit judge Tuesday and made bond at $4,000. He served as the chief judge of the 20th Judicial Circuit from 2011 to 2016, was a finalist for the Governor’s Peace at Home Award, and was known for standing against domestic violence. Rosman referred to his resignation as a “retirement.”

“It has been an honor to serve the community since 1986,” Rosman wrote to Gov. Rick Scott’s office, according to USA Today. “In my retirement, I look forward to spending more time with my family and continuing to contribute to the community.”

The State Attorney’s Office for the 20th circuit told USA Today that it would ask for Rosman’s solicitation and resisting arrest cases to be reassigned.

Both Rosman and Cecil pleaded not guilty, waived their March 7 arraignment, and chose to have a trial by jury. Boll remains free on a bond at $2,000, and will be arraigned March 7.

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