Source: Associated Press via Google
SPOKANE, Wash. -- A spotlight is once again shined on what is called the "seamy underside of this ostensibly staid city" in a story by reporter Nicholas K. Geranios published this week by the Associated Press.
The AP story recounts the resignation of a conservative politician from southwest Washington who claims he was shaken down by a gay hustler in Spokane. [see Qnews and Qblog stories]
Former state Rep. Richard Curtis, who went to Spokane in late October for a Republican conference, got into trouble when he also stopped at an adult bookstore, picked up a man named Cody Castagna, and brought him to his hotel room for sex.
Witnesses told police that Curtis was a regular patron of the adult bookstore, liked to dress in women's lingerie, and was observed having sex in an upstairs room with a man with a cane.
Qnews update: Prosecutors drop all charges against Castagna in Curtis sex/'extortion' scandal (17-June-08)
Describing Spokane as "an outwardly conservative city of 200,000 residents about 270 miles east of liberal Seattle," the story notes that the Curtis/Castagna affair is only the latest in a series of high-profile cases in what it calls "a lurid decade for Spokane."
AP points out that the city has been rocked by a series of scandals since 2000. That's when a "quiet" a family man was arrested for killing 10 prostitutes and having sex with some of their corpses. A short time later, the mayor, Jim West -- who later resigned -- was outed by the local paper as a closeted homosexual who allegedly offered city jobs to young men in exchange for sex. Throughout it all came a series of stories that eventually resulted in the bankruptcy of Spokane's Roman Catholic diocese over lawsuits brought by victims of sexual abuse by priests.
Curtis is a married father who voted against gay-rights bills in the Legislature while representing suburban Vancouver. He told The Columbian newspaper in Vancouver shortly after the story broke that sex was not involved in the alleged extortion attempt, and said he was not gay. [see Qnews summary]
But police reports showed that Curtis told investigators he had in fact had sex with Castagna.
Curtis resigned in October, soon after the reports were released.
Prosecutors allege that Castagna, 26, demanded $1,000 after their night at a downtown Spokane hotel. Curtis refused to pay, and claims Castagna and his associates tried to blackmail him by threatening to reveal the married lawmaker's sexual practices.
Police theorized that the alleged extortion scheme must also have snared other prominent men who indulged their private passions while visiting the city.
But no additional victims appeared after a public plea from police, spokeswoman Jennifer DeRuwe told AP. "We still believe there are other victims out there," DeRuwe said. "But nobody is willing to come forward."
Castagna, 27, has pleaded innocent to three counts of theft, two counts of extortion and one court of conspiracy to commit extortion for the late October incident. [see Qnews summary]
Curtis, 48, is cooperating with investigators and will not be charged with soliciting prostitution, prosecutors have said. Curtis will have to testify if there is a trial, which is set for April 7, prosecutor Rachel Sterett said.
The city's gay community has not exactly rushed to Castagna's defense, if postings on the Internet are a fair indication. Many of the postings refer to him as a thief and extortionist who presented a poor picture of gays. Some even expressed support for Curtis for exposing Castagna's extortion attempt.
Bonnie Aspen, a gay activist in Spokane, told AP that the bigger story is the large number of gay men who lead closeted lives and are vulnerable to extortion.
"It's very, very sad, having to deny who you are," Aspen said.
Castagna's attorney has contended that his client took money from Curtis on the spur-of-the-moment, after the politician offered to pay $1,000 for unprotected sex. Authorities say Castagna began blackmailing Curtis when the politician reneged on the full payment.
"I don't think Cody does that," attorney David Partovi said, when asked if Castagna had tried to blackmail others. Partovi declined a request for an interview with his client.
Full article: The Associated Press: Sleepy Spokane Shows Its Sordid Side