Sandwich Mayor Charged In Prostitution Sting

SANDWICH, IL — Sandwich Mayor Richard Olson has been charged in possible connection to a prostitution sting, WSPY News reports. On Friday, authorities served Olson with a notice to appear in court. Olson is facing one count of solicitation of a sexual act, a misdemeanor, according to Lasalle County Court records.

The Patch has reached out to the Lasalle County Sheriff’s Office for more information.

WSPY News is reporting that Olson is among nine individuals charged in possible connection with a prostitution sting. Court records indicate the incident occurred on March 14.

In a statement to WSPY News, Lasalle County Sheriff Tom Templeton said the investigation began after receiving complaints from Illinois Valley citizens regarding prostitution. Since then, a joint undercover investigation has taken place on three separate dates that Templeton reportedly said “focused on the link between prostitution and the use of illegal drugs in this area and the crimes that are directly related to it such as robbery, battery, homicide, etc."

The Lasalle County Sheriff’s Office and the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team were assisted in this investigation by the Ottawa and Peru police departments. The case is currently open in the Lasalle County Court.

Olson has a May 31 court date. The Patch will provide more information as it becomes available.