10 people arrested in prostitution sting

Ten people, including a 19-year-old man who police say was prostituting his 17-year-old girlfriend, were arrested Thursday following a multiagency sting operation.

Investigators from South Salt Lake, West Jordan, West Valley City and Sandy police departments set up undercover operations at different motels across the valley from noon until 11 p.m., said South Salt Lake police detective Gary Keller.

Detectives would call personal ads on Craig's List, Backpage and City Vibe and have them meet undercover officers at the motels, he said. Once the prostitute offered sex in exchange for money, officers monitoring the situation from a back room would come out and make an arrest.

The worst incident, Keller said, was a 19-year-old man who was prostituting out his girlfriend.

Joseph Oeser was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of exploiting a prostitute. His girlfriend was arrested for investigation of prostitution.

Eight of the 10 people arrested were female. Some of the other arrests were for investigation of disorderly conduct, obstruction and possession of a controlled substance. Arrests were also made for business license violations. Keller said those were mainly for prostitutes working under the front of being a massage business.

— Pat Reavy