A former Franklin County constable accused of running a prostitution ring is expected to face a judge on Friday.
Thomas Banta, 67, was a Franklin County Constable from 2011 to 2014. Earlier this week he was indicted for promoting prostitution, kidnapping a minor and impersonating a peace officer. Hendra Valentine, one of Banta’s former employees, is also charged with kidnapping and impersonating a peace officer.
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“I knew some of the family and I was shocked, really,” said Banta’s neighbor on Devane Lane, Susan Mcnees. “In a little town, like Frankfort, that was highly surprising.”
According to affidavits obtained by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting, Kentucky State Police was notified in February of 2015 about a prostitution ring Banta was running out of his business and home.
“Very disturbing. I couldn’t believe it when I was reading the story,” said Mcnees.
The documents obtained by KYCIR said a 38-year old inmate at the Franklin County Jail backed up the story. The affidavits said the woman claimed she had worked as a prostitute for Banta since she was in the eighth grade and would have sex with 15 to 20 men a day. The woman said when she was a teenager, Banta told her to go the Capital Plaza Hotel to have sex with a man and told not to ask any questions. She claims she later recognized the man on TV.
Neighbors on Devane Lane said they never noticed anything strange at Banta’s home. On Thursday LEX18 News stopped by, to see what he had to say. No one answered the door, however, there was a for sale sign out front. No one answered when LEX18 called the listed number.
Banta is out of jail and expected to be in court on Friday. His neighbors just hope the truth prevails.
“Justice for him if he’s not guilty, and justice if he is,” said Mcnees.
