Pandering charge dismissed against Oklahoma Cityâ€™s 'video vigilante'

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A legal technicality prompts a judge to dismiss a pandering charge against Brian Bates, an anti-prostitution activist who calls himself a 'video vigilante.'<br/><br/>Bates

Tuesday, January 10th 2006, 6:21 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A legal technicality prompts a judge to dismiss a pandering charge against Brian Bates, an anti-prostitution activist who calls himself a 'video vigilante.'

Bates was scheduled to go on trial Monday in Oklahoma County. But a spokeswoman for Oklahoma County District Attorney Wes Lane says prosecutors failed to respond in writing to a motion filed by Bates' attorney.

Prosecutors filed a motion Monday for District Judge Ray Elliott to reconsider his decision to dismiss the case. Elliott is scheduled to hear that motion January 20th.

Bates was arrested last year for allegedly paying a prostitute so that she would have sex with her customers in predetermined locations.

According to court records, Bates told the prostitute he was going to use the footage for television appearances he planned to make.