HUNTINGTON, Ind. – A Huntington man is being charged by the Huntington County Prosecutor’s Office with patronizing a prostitute.
David W. Drabenstot, 56, last known address: 1518 Cherry St., has been charged with a class A misdemeanor of patronizing a prostitute.
On or about May 9, Huntington City Police Officer Richard S. Winter performed a traffic stop on a white Chevy Impala on U.S. 24 near Guildford Street for speeding.
The driver identified herself as Janyria Grandberry, 19, last known address: 1208 S. Anthony Boulevard, Fort Wayne. She was later charged with a class C misdemeanor of operating a motor vehicle while never having received a license and a class A misdemeanor of prostitution.
Grandberry’s passenger identified herself as Jalisa Mitchell, 26, last known address: 427 Buchanan St., Fort Wayne. She was also later charged with prostitution, a class A misdemeanor.
Neither Grandberry or Mitchell had a driver’s license or had ever been issued one.
During the traffic stop, Winter asked the females where they were heading and Grandberry replied they were going to a friend’s house in Huntington. She had the address in her phone and pulled it up for the officer to read. The address was the above mentioned of Drabenstot.
Winter reported that when he looked at Grandberry’s text messages of the address he noticed the text messages were sexual in nature. He added that Grandberry seemed to be “extremely” nervous while he was speaking with her.
Grandberry and Mitchell were given a courtesy ride to Drabenstot’s residence and when they got there Drabenstot answered the door and asked them, “Can I help you?”
After talking to Drabenstot, Winter stated some things weren’t adding up and asked him if would mind answering some questions. Drabenstot agreed and Winter read him his Miranda Warning.
When asked where he met Grandberry and Mitchell, Drabenstot replied he met them through a website. He stated he found the profile of one of the girls and contacted her by cellphone. He further stated that he agreed to pay each girl $150 per hour for sexual intercourse.
Drabenstot also told Winter that he thought this was Grandberry and Mitchell’s second or third trip to his residence. Winter asked them all to come to the police department to speak more about the situation.
Grandberry and Mitchell’s cell phones were seized to prevent any evidence being destroyed.
Drabenstot will be in Huntington County Superior Court July 7, at 8:30 a.m. for a status on a change of plea hearing.
Both Grandberry and Mitchell are set for a pretrial conference in Superior Court on Aug. 8, at 8:30 a.m.
