Police say Henry Douglas, 42, of Albany is charged with unlawful imprisonment in the second degree and promoting prostitution in the second degree after he allegedly held a Newburgh woman against her will and used a local hotel room for prostitution.
Police say it started Friday when the victim's friend Ciara Miller, 19, of West Haverstraw called the victim and invited her to New Paltz to party. When Miller and Douglas picked the victim up, police say they drove to Regency Hotel in Albany instead.
"Over the course of those two days he forced her into prostitution by threatening to hurt her if she tried to leave. He threatened to kill her or anyone who came to pick her up," said James Miller, Albany Public Safety Spokesperson.
Police say Douglas used the website, backpage.com to advertise the victim and Miller as escorts online. Men could then allegedly see their pictures, call the number and make arrangements to come to the hotel to pay for sex.
Just before midnight Sunday, the victim was able to leave and called 911. Authorities say websites like the one used in this case are difficult to police.
"Escorts aren't illegal it's just when you get to the point where someone's paying for sex. That's why it becomes illegal, so they're really difficult to enforce on that level," said James Miller.
Police say Ciara Miller was charged with prostitution.
The investigation into this prostitution is still under investigation.
Regency Hotel in Albany says it has no comment, but says it had nothing to do with this incident.
