Staff report

The Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force last week arrested two people who tried to trade money for sex, “contributing to the scourge of human trafficking in Ohio,” according to a press release from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

“The criminal behavior of coercion and extortion fuels the demand for human trafficking and continues the cycle,” Yost stated. “Without demand, traffickers don’t have clients and don’t need victims.”

On Friday, the task force arrested Patrick J. Geho, 55, of Washington, Pa., who responded to an undercover ad and arranged to purchase sex. Upon arrest, Geho identified himself as the director of public relations for Washington County, Pa., according to the press release.

Law enforcement confirmed that he was, in fact, the director of public relations for Washington County, Pa., said Maj. Jeff Allen of the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, which is the lead agency for the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is organized under Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission.

Geho, of Washingtonville, Pa., was charged in Columbiana County Municipal Court with engaging in prostitution and possession of criminal tools. He was arraigned Monday in Columbiana County Municipal Court, pleading not guilty to the two misdemeanor charges. He was released on a personal recognizance bond and is due back in court June 2, court records show.

On Thursday, the task force, in conjunction with the Salem Police Department, arrested David L. Saunders, 47, of Canton, who was posing as a woman selling sex online. Saunders has an extensive criminal background, the news release states.

Saunders was charged with solicitation, possession of criminal tools, driving under suspension and possession of drug paraphernalia, all misdemeanors. He pleaded not guilty Friday in Columbiana County Municipal Court.

The task force consists of representatives from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Salem Police Department, East Palestine Police Department, Austintown Police Department, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Youngstown Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority and Ohio Investigative Unit.