In a Maine courtroom today, a state judge said she would not stop the release of more than 100 names of men who frequented Alexis Wright's Zumba Fitness studio in Kennebunk, Maine, where the hot fitness craze got a little too hot: the studio allegedly served as a brothel. A lawyer is appealing the decision.
Kennebunk Police Lt. Anthony Burpee said law enforcement officials were awaiting word from the courts, as reported by the Associated Press. Residents said the names could include lawyers and law enforcement officers, MercuryNews.com reported.
MercuryNews.com also reported that there were 150 names on the list.
A legal analyst for New England Cable News, Randy Chapman, expressed concern about releasing the names, saying the publicity would ruin lives and constitute a punishment disproprtionate to the "minimal violation of criminal law." He also said because the men were taped without their knowledge it is possible they were being targeted for extortion.
The 29-year-old Wright, who was slapped with 106 charges including prostitution, violation of privacy, and tax evasion pleaded not guilty to all charges at a hearing in Portland, earlier this week. Her business partner Mark Strong, Sr., pleaded not guilty to another 59 additional counts, including promotion of prostitution and violation of privacy.
As if the arrests and allegations weren't shocking enough, many of the alleged numerous encounters were secretly videotaped and there are over 100 hours of video and more than 14,000 screen shots captured on computers that have been seized, reported the Associated Press.
Now the town is waiting to hear the names of the men involved, which is supposed to happen over the next few weeks.
"Any time something like that happens, people get curious. It's almost like the newspapers are teasing us that there are prominent names on the list. But maybe it'll be nothing," said Dan Breton, a business owner in town, as reported by WebProNews.
UPDATES:
Zumba Prostitution Scandal: Ex-South Portland Mayor James A. Soule on Client List, Judge Allows Release of Ages and Addresses
Alexis Wright Maine Prostitution Scandal: Police Release 21 Names
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