Prostitution and “Bawdy Place” on Biggs Drive: Four arrested

On May 15, 2019, the Front Royal Police Department responded to the 300 block of Biggs Drive in continuance of an active investigation. Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia State Police also assisted. Felony and misdemeanor charges were obtained on Cynthia Atkinson Bailey, Brandy Nicole Atkinson, Jesse Thomas Atkinson and Joshua Allan Stamper related to an investigation involving prostitution and maintaining a bawdy place.

Cynthia Bailey was charged and arrested for maintaining a bawdy place, receiving money from earnings of prostitution, prostitution and cruelty to children. Brandy Atkinson was charged and arrested with maintaining a bawdy place, prostitution and cruelty to children.

Both Cynthia Bailey and Brandy Atkinson were released from RSW on a secured bond. While Jesse Atkinson is currently being held on a Probation Violation. Court dates for this incident are set for June 18, 2019, at 10:00am in General District Court and June 20, 2019, at 9:00am in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

Jesse Atkinson was arrested and charged with maintaining a bawdy place and is being held at RSW Regional Jail for probation violation. Joshua Stamper was charged with maintaining a bawdy place and is currently being held at Rappahannock Regional Jail located in Stafford County on unrelated charges.

Anyone who has any further information about this investigation is asked to contact Detective D. Fogle at the Front Royal Police Department, Criminal Investigations Division at 540-636-2208 or dfogle@frontroyalva.com.

What’s a “bawdy place”?

In Virginia, all forms of prostitution are against the law. Here’s the state code on the above charges:

§ 18.2-347. Keeping, residing in or frequenting a bawdy place; “bawdy place” defined.
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any bawdy place, or to reside in or at or visit, for immoral purposes, any such bawdy place. Each and every day such bawdy place shall be kept, resided in or visited, shall constitute a separate offense. In a prosecution under this section the general reputation of the place may be proved.

As used in this Code, “bawdy place” shall mean any place within or without any building or structure which is used or is to be used for lewdness, assignation or prostitution.

§ 18.2-346. Prostitution; commercial sexual conduct; commercial exploitation of a minor; penalties.
A. Any person who, for money or its equivalent, (i) commits adultery, fornication, or any act in violation of § 18.2-361, performs cunnilingus, fellatio, or anilingus upon or by another person, or engages in anal intercourse or (ii) offers to commit adultery, fornication, or any act in violation of § 18.2-361, perform cunnilingus, fellatio, or anilingus upon or by another person, or engage in anal intercourse and thereafter does any substantial act in furtherance thereof is guilty of prostitution, which is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.

B. Any person who offers money or its equivalent to another for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts as enumerated in subsection A and thereafter does any substantial act in furtherance thereof is guilty of solicitation of prostitution, which is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. However, any person who solicits prostitution from a minor (i) 16 years of age or older is guilty of a Class 6 felony or (ii) younger than 16 years of age is guilty of a Class 5 felony.