Teen Charged With Using Craigslist To Run Prostitution Service

Sunday, April 8th 2007, 9:18 pm

By: News On 6

HILLSIDE, Ill. (AP) _ A teenager once arrested alongside her mother in a prostitution case has been accused of running an escort service out of her suburban Chicago home using the popular Web site Craigslist.

Kimberly Petersen, 17, was arrested after detectives doing a routine search of the site's classified boards found one that included an offer to ``enjoy a beautiful blonde'' for $250 an hour and pictures of a smiling woman in lingerie.

An undercover detective who called the number in the ad and arrived at Peterson's home was quoted a $300 rate for a 27-year-old woman to perform a sex act, Hillside Police Chief Joseph Lukaszek said.

Petersen was released on bond late last week after being arrested and charged with a misdemeanor, police said. Heidi Mudge, 27, was charged with prostitution.

A 48-year-old man who came to the house while police were investigating also was arrested.

Petersen's mother, Kimberly Miniea, faced a similar charge last April after police said she told them she ran an escort service to ``entertain married men.'' The charge was dropped.

Petersen, then 16, also was arrested at the time but was not charged. Miniea is now in prison serving a two-year sentence on an unrelated drunken driving conviction.

The Craigslist ad had been removed Sunday and a telephone number at Petersen's house was unlisted.

A Craigslist did not immediately return a telephone call and e-mail message left late Sunday.