Charges dropped against 6 suburban prostitutes

Six of 18 suburbanites arrested recently in prostitution stings have had their charges dismissed by prosecutors after participating in an educational program, officials said Friday.

Those who had their charges dismissed after completing educational programs, according to the state's attorney's office, are: Jennifer Covington, 22, of 860 N. Foxworth in Lombard; Rhettia Reese, 31, of 126 Harding in Glendale Heights; Joseph Assenato, 39, of 635 Riverside in Park Ridge; Michael Assenato, 25, of 159 N. Hemlock in Wood Dale; Jason Anderson, 34, of 909 Kenilworth in Palatine; Tiffany Schipitz, 29, of 433 Plymouth Lane in Schaumburg.

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart on Wednesday announced their arrests, among 250 which took place over the past four months.

The six completed educational programs geared toward teaching individuals accused for the first time of prostitution-related offenses both the dangers of prostitution and its societal harm, said Andy Conklin of the State's Attorney's Office.

Those accused of soliciting prostitutes attend a program called "Amend" where they hear from former prostitutes about their experiences and from experts about sexually transmitted diseases. Those accused of prostitution attend a program called "Unhooked," Conklin said.

Dart called a press conference Wednesday to announce the arrests and release the names of persons arrested.

The Daily Herald published the names of 18 suburbanites on the list Thursday. Besides the six whose charges were dropped after attending class, one man, Shanhan Alexanian, 39, of 365 S. Lawn in Des Plaines, pleaded guilty to one count of prostitution and received a six=month sentence and a $385 fine, court records said.

The other 11 suspects' court cases are still pending.