Brandy Britton won her first battle in Howard County District Court on Thursday.
Britton, 42, a former assistant professor of sociology and anthropology at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, is charged with four counts of prostitution.
Judge Pamila Brown ruled that Britton did not have to enter the crowded courtroom, allowing the former women?s studies teacher to stay sequestered in a back room.
Over prosecutors? objections, Brown also postponed the trial of Britton, whom police allege entertained clients in her Ellicott City home, which sits in a neighborhood near Centennial Lane Elementary School.
Brown pushed Britton?s trial back to Aug. 8, because Britton?s attorney, Christopher Flohr, whom Britton hired shortly before her court date, needed more time to prepare a defense.
As she left the courtroom, Britton declined to comment on the case.
Police said Britton operated a Web site called Alexisangel.com, which is no longer active, that advertised sexual acts in exchange for money.
Britton charged a minimum of $300 an hour for modeling and providing companionship, but did not engage in prostitution, according to the site.
“Money exchanged in legal adult personal services for modeling is simply for my time and companionship,” the site stated.
At noon Jan. 17, a police officer made an appointment to meet Britton at her home, according to charging documents.
Britton led the officer to a bedroom, where she instructed the officer to undress and place $400 on the table, police said.
The officer then let in the door members of the department?s vice and narcotics squad, who arrested Britton, police said.
Police said they searched the house and found “numerous business records” in Britton?s name tying her to the Web site.
Officers also confiscated 150 condoms and nine bottles of lubricating substances from the house, charging documents state. Each charge Britton faces carries a penalty of up to one year in jail or a $500 fine.
