Judge to ponder new trial for Doll House case

Sentencing for Santiago Steven Maese, who was convicted of exploiting prostitution and unlawful activity in July, has been delayed again while a judge ponders Maese's request for a new trial.

Third District Judge Randall Skanchy said Monday that after having read 149 pages of legal briefs from both prosecutors and defense attorneys, and hearing arguments from both sides, he will take all of this under advisement and issue a written opinion.

A jury after a two-day trial found Maese, 31, guilty of four counts of exploiting a prostitute, all third-degree felonies, and one count of a pattern of unlawful activity, a second-degree felony. He was acquitted of a second-degree felony count of money laundering.

Prosecutors contend Maese was the prime mover behind the Doll House escort service, which he operated with his former girlfriend, Tiffany French Curtis. Curtis originally faced the same charges as Maese, but earlier pleaded guilty to misdemeanors and was put on probation.

Although prosecutors termed Maese a pimp and a manipulator of women, Maese took the witness stand at his trial and calmly denied all claims against him.

As far as the guilty verdict, Maese's attorney, Gil Athay, has raised questions about several aspects of the trial and on Monday argued two particular points. Athay claims that the bill of particulars of exactly what illegal things Maese was alleged to have done was "woefully inadequate."

"We did not know what specific acts we were supposed to defend," Athay said.

Athay also argued that the jury instructions and juror statements showed that this jury did not reach a unanimous verdict, at least in the sense of agreeing on every element of every charge.

"We believe this rises to the level of constitutional deprivation of due process," Athay said.

Prosecutor Chad Platt, however, responded that the information provided to the defense was "very clear."

Platt said prosecutors provided a preview of evidence that would be introduced at trial and in amended information described specific testimony that was expected to emerge from various witnesses.

As for the jury instructions, Platt termed them "very explicit" and said when individual jurors were polled at the end of the trial, each said guilty.

"I'm happy the judge is considering our arguments," Maese said as he left the courtroom. "It sounds like he's taking them seriously."

Platt, too, said this was the correct course for the judge to take. "I think it's appropriate that he go through everything again."

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E-mail: lindat@desnews.com