Anti-prostitute crusader in Oklahoma City arrested on prostitution-related complaints

Wednesday, February 9th 2005, 5:42 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- An anti-prostitution activist who videotaped prostitutes and their customers and gave the tapes to police and television shows is now accused of setting up some of the encounters.

So-called "Video Vigilante" Brian Bates was arrested on complaints of pandering and aiding and abetting prostitution.

Bates calls the charges bogus, but police say he paid prostitutes to engage in sexual acts in areas that were easy for him to videotape so he could sell the tapes to media outlets.

Captain Jeffrey Becker says Bates at first paid prostitutes $40 and later began paying them $60 for helping him get graphic footage. An arrest report says tape-recorded conversations confirm Bates paid a prostitute to have sex in public so he could videotape the act.

Bates was released early Wednesday morning after questioning.