Former Aberdeen Mayor and state Del. Charles Boutin has been implicated in an Internet prostitution sting conducted last fall by the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office.
The investigation by the State’s Attorney Joseph I. Cassilly indicates that Boutin used his state-owned computer to communicate with convicted prostitute Valerie Beth Fletcher, 47, of Joppa.
Boutin, 63, will not be charged in connection with the probe, as Cassilly said the purpose of the probe was to apprehend Fletcher.
Boutin’s implication in the Internet probe seems to answer some questions, said Harford County Del. Joanne Parrott, R-District 35A.
“I do recall … there were two occasions where his computer in the delegation office was found to have some porn on the screen,” Parrott said, adding that in each case Boutin denied knowledge of how the porn came to be on his computer and said that someone else must have accessed his computer.
In a statement issued by his attorney Gus Brown on Thursday, Boutin is quoted as saying, “I committed no criminal act. I acknowledge, however, that my judgment was morally wrong and I am ashamed and sorry.”
Boutin also said he never met with the prostitute.
The Aberdeen resident was appointed as one of the five members of the Public Service Commission by Gov. Robert Ehrlich in 2005
Boutin’s career
» Harford County school board member, 1977-81
» Aberdeen City Council member, 1992-94
» Aberdeen mayor, 1994-98
» State delegate for Southern Harford County, 1999-2005
» Public Service Commission member, 2005-present
The Associated Press contributed to this story
