Prosecutors probe public housing sex-for-repairs allegations
FOX 26 - BALTIMORE (AP) — Prosecutors are investigating allegations that maintenance men refused to perform repairs at public housing units unless residents had sex with them.
The Baltimore state's attorney's office announced Wednesday in a statement from spokeswoman Rochelle Ritchie that it is investigating whether to file criminal charges because of the seriousness of the allegations.
In a lawsuit against the city's housing authority, attorneys for 11 women, including four new plaintiffs announced Tuesday, say they were denied basic and necessary repairs in public housing units because they refused to have sex with handymen. For example, one woman says she slept next to the oven because a handyman wouldn't fix her heat without sexual favors.
Baltimore Housing Authority spokeswoman Tania Baker said Tuesday that the agency is aware of the allegations and continues to conduct an internal investigation.