CLEARWATER, Fla. — Clearwater Police arrested the owner of a home on Johns Parkway for deriving proceeds from prostitution and renting space to be used for prostitution. Neighbors say police raided the home on Wednesday.
According to arrest documents, 52-year-old William Schatz charged two female prostitutes $100 a week each to live at his house. He would then charge them between $10 to $20 for each "date" they would have with a "John" in the home. He would also charge them for gas to drive them to "outcall" dates, where they would meet men outside of the home for prostitution.
According to arrest documents, the women admitted to prostitution, but they have not been charged with a crime.
ABC Action News spoke to one of the prostitutes who didn't outright admit to having sex for money.
"It's definitely not the right way to be living, but times are hard sometimes and you just have to try to do your best," she said.
When asked if Schatz had been keeping her and other girls in the home against their will, she walked away saying, "I have to go."
Neighbors along Johns Parkway tell ABC Action News they would hear constant fighting, parties and see constant traffic.
"All kinds of traffic coming through. All times of day. All times of night," Sherry, who lives across the street from the home, said. Sherry asked us not to use her last name since she has several young children and claims Schatz tried to fight her son one night.
She says she had her suspicions about the activity at the home. On more than one occasion, she witnessed strange men walking up to the door carrying lingerie.
"For the girls to wear, I guess," she said.
Questions to Clearwater police about what led police to the home have gone unanswered. It's also not clear where the investigation stands.
