Elgin police charge two with prostitution

An Elgin man and a Carpentersville woman were arrested Thursday night in Elgin and charged with prostitution.

Raul Rodriguez, 33, of the 400 block of Center Street, was driving a vehicle that was stopped by police at about 10:20 p.m. at Bent Street and Wellington Avenue after failing to signal leaving the curb and within 100 feet of two turns, a police report said.

Julie A. Newberry, 25, of the 1100 block of Chippewa Circle, was a passenger.

Both told police they meet three to four times a month, and Rodriguez pays Newberry $20 each time for sex.

Rodriguez was also charged with possession of fake ID cards and driving with a suspended license, while Newberry was also charged with possession of a controlled substance and obstructing identification, according to court documents.

Newberry, who was not wearing a seat belt, initially gave her sister’s name to police so she could drive the car away, because her sister has a driver’s license, the report said.

Inside the vehicle, police said they found a crack rock and numerous syringes, some with blood on them, and a bent spoon containing heroin residue. Police also found five ID cards, three resident alien cards, and two Social Security cards, all of them with Rodriguez’s name or picture.

Rodriguez told police someone came to his house, took his photo and printed the cards.

Newberry said she’s been using cocaine and heroin since about age 16, and has a $200 per day habit.

Each had bail set at $30,000 Friday morning. Newberry is next due in court April 3. Rodriguez has an April 5 court date.