An Elko man is accused of paying two teenager prostitutesβone of them a runawayβfor sex in an Eagan hotel room. Mickey Albert Cupkie, 35, was charged with four counts of engaging in prostitution with a minor, according to charges filed last week in Ramsey County District Court. While trying to track down a year-old runaway, police spoke with a year-old girl, who told an investigator that she and the other teen had been forced by their pimp to prostitute themselves at an Eagan hotel on May 9.
Police found an advertisement on Backpages. An investigator also reviewed surveillance footage from the hotel, which showed the girls meeting a man outside the hotel. Phone records from the year-old's phone contained a series of calls from a specific number, as well as text messages from that number that were sexual in nature, police said. Under questioning, police say Cupkie said it "was possible" that he had used Backpages.
Police say Cupkie also admitted that he had performed oral sex on the year-old, and that the older girl had touched him sexually.
Cupkie allegedly admitted to police that he told both girls he believed they were too young to be engaged in prostitution. The siteβrun by Village Voice Mediaβrecently came under fire from advocacy groups and authorities who want the company to shutter its adult services section. Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Derrick Williams , Patch Staff. Posted Tue, Jun 26, at pm CT. Find out what's happening in Lakeville for free with the latest updates from Patch.
Police used the footage and phone records to identify Cupkie, who was arrested on June Sports 2d. Sports Jan
