GLOVERSVILLE - A former Fulton County coroner was charged with hiring a city woman to perform sexual favors in exchange for cash after reporting missing checks she allegedly stole.
The arrest came Wednesday after Paul L. Decker, 54, of 22 Maple Ave., reported to city police that several of his personal checks were cashed and missing. Police also arrested the woman who was accused of stealing his checks on forgery and prostitution charges.
Decker in 2000 pleaded guilty to official misconduct and was sentenced to 60 weekend days in jail after being accused of trying to take cash from the home of a Stratford woman who died.
Gloversville police said today Decker didn't realize the stolen checks had been taken by the woman he was paying for sex.
"He called and reported that checks were either lost or stolen, and when the officer went to the bank and got copies of the checks that were cashed, he also received the photographs from the tellers window," Capt. John Sira said.
The photographs depicted Lisa M. Charles, 27, of 13 W. Eighth Ave., who was charged by city police with three felony counts of forgery, one count of petit larceny and one count of prostitution. She was arraigned and released.
Sira said Charles cashed four of Decker's checks worth a total of $250. Sira said when Charles was interviewed by police she "went into a little more depth" on her arrangement with Decker, but Decker later denied knowing her.
"She had been at his residence several times, and Decker had solicited her for sexual favors," Sira said. "She obliged and on one of the times she was there, she took some of his personal checks."
Decker was charged with one count of patronizing a prostitute, a misdemeanor, and was released on an appearance ticket.
"I would say [prostitution] is not something we come across often. Periodically we'll hear that someone is doing something like that, but it isn't something we come across," Sira said.
