Associated Press Published

Trial Set For West Virginia Senator Charged With Soliciting Prostitute

WP2_7224-1.jpg

 A West Virginia senator charged with soliciting a prostitute is going to trial.

A Marshall County court clerk says a judge on Wednesday set a Dec. 13 jury trial date for Sen. Mike Maroney.

The Republican lawmaker has pleaded not guilty. He turned himself in in August and was released on a $4,500 bond.

A criminal complaint says Maroney exchanged text messages to discuss prices and set up meetings with a woman who has admitted to being a prostitute. He also sent her a picture of himself so she would agree to meet him.

His attorney did not immediately return a message left at his office.

The 51-year-old Maroney is the chairman of the state Senate Health and Human Resources Committee.