ALFRED – Text messages and emails from Alexis Wright to Mark Strong Sr. in the Kennebunk prostitution case show that she had paid sex with as many as five men a day, sometimes with only 15-minute breaks between them, and that she wanted to be sure that Strong watched online at all times.
That evidence — about 50 pages of emails and 75 pages of text messages — was presented to the jury in Strong’s trial in February but never shared in its entirety with the public until Tuesday.
Additional Photos
The judge in the trial, Justice Nancy Mills, had ordered all evidence in the case against Strong impounded in response to a request by the Portland Press Herald in early March to review the emails and text messages.
Strong was convicted of 12 counts of promotion of prostitution and one count of conspiracy to promote prostitution and served 15 days in jail. He was released on April 5.
Mills partially lifted the impoundment late Friday, nearly a month after the Press Herald appealed her decision. York County Superior Court made the documents available Tuesday afternoon.
Mills said in her order that she decided to lift the impoundment of the emails and text messages after Wright pleaded guilty to 20 misdemeanor counts on March 29.
“The court is satisfied that the potential prejudice to defendants who have been charged or may be charged with engaging a prostitute from the release of these exhibits is insufficient to deny access to the two exhibits,” Mills wrote.
All other evidence from Strong’s trial remains impounded under the judge’s order.
Wright, 30, of Wells, worked with Strong, 57, of Thomaston, to run a one-woman prostitution business from her Zumba studio in Kennebunk.
So far, 68 people have been charged with engaging Wright for prostitution and 27 of them have been convicted and fined. Kennebunk police announced Friday that they may charge 40 more people on Wright’s client list, which prosecutors have said contains more than 140 names.
Printed copies of the emails show that Wright sent Strong spreadsheets of her client list from October to December 2010. Only clients’ first names appear, with the last names redacted. The list also includes email addresses that are partially redacted. It includes dates, times, service or sex acts performed, and payments.
The text-message evidence shows only texts sent by Wright, from the mundane to the salacious. Some, like a series from Feb. 9, 2012, show her busy prostitution schedule:
“Wow. Two days, ten clients.” — 1:27 p.m.
“I did. :-)” — 1:53 p.m.
“I’m going to spend the day finishing the schedule up for the week!” — 7:31 p.m.
“I can email a few people and try to get them to bite for the morning” — 7:39 p.m.
“He’s weird. He doesn’t like things that feel good. He likes to be tortured” — 7:43 p.m.
“To each his own I guess, but there is something about him that is very strange” — 7:43 p.m.
“I had sex with Larry, Pete and Paul on Thursday” — 7:44 p.m.
“And Michael, Pete, Pat, Jason and Mike today” — 7:45 p.m.
“I love you Mark. :-)” — 7:50 p.m.
“Call you in the morning?” — 7:50 p.m.
Other text messages, like this series from Jan. 25, 2012, show how integral Strong was to the prostitution business:
“You must have gotten tied up somewhere. I can’t reach you and Jared is already in the area. I won’t see a client without your permission and viewing so I’ll wait to hear from you I guess.” — 1:01 p.m.
“I can see him sitting across the street.” — 1:06 p.m.
“I’m sure he can see my car but if he knocks, I won’t answer unless you’re in your office. :-(” — 1:06 p.m.
“Jared is sitting across the street waiting to hear from me. I’ll wait until 1:30 but I’m assuming that you’re not heading into the office.” — 1:13 p.m.
Prosecutors opposed the release of the emails and text messages because they planned to use the same evidence in Wright’s trial, which never happened because of her guilty pleas.
As part of her plea agreement, Wright will be sentenced to serve 10 months in the York County Jail and owe more than $58,000 in fines and restitution. She remains free on bail until her sentencing May 31.
Scott Dolan can be contacted at 791-6304 or at:
sdolan@pressherald.com
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Comments are no longer available on this story