Local businessman, accused of coordinating over 100 sexual encounters, will stand trial

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story contains sexually graphic details. Reader discretion is advised.

POCATELLO – A Chubbuck businessman will stand trial for procuring prostitutes and accepting payment for prostitution, both felonies.

Theron Radford, 43, was bound over to the trial court following a preliminary hearing that lasted about 90 minutes Tuesday.

Bannock County Deputy Prosecutor Brian Trammell called one witness during the hearing.

A former teacher with Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25, who EastIdahoNews.com has chosen not to identify, testified she met Radford in 2012 during a bankruptcy case and that they stayed in touch following the proceedings.

Sometime during 2013 or 2014, the teacher said, Radford told her that he posted ads on Craigslist.com for men seeking sexual encounters with men and she said he showed her his Craigslist post.

The teacher said Radford told her that there were also ads seeking female companionship and that she could make some money if she was interested.

Recently divorced and a single mom in need of cash, the teachder said she agreed to meet a man at a local hotel in January 2014. The teacher said there was physical contact between her and the man, but the encounter did not involve sex.

The teacher said she was paid $500 for the date. Afterwards she and Radford discussed posting ads for her on Craigslist and Backpage.com.

She testified Radford posted and paid for the ads on Backpage.com and used his contact information to set up meetings for sex. The fee charged for each encounter was $160 per hour.

“All inquiries went directly to (Radford),” the teacher said.

The ads included partially nude photos that the teacher said she took of herself.

The teacher said the encounters took place at local hotels or at Radford’s residence at Pine Ridge Apartments in Chubbuck. She testified that she was paid in cash or by credit cards, which were paid to Radford’s account and he gave her half of the money.

She also told the court that Radford often drove her to meetings at hotels and waited outside in his car.

During the hearing, the teacher was visibly emotional. She estimated that she had been involved in at least 100 paid encounters during her association with Radford. The sexual encounters included oral sex, sexual intercourse and fondling.

The teacher is represented by Pocatello attorney Keith Zollinger, who appeared with her during Tuesday’s preliminary hearing. Zollinger told the court that a verbal agreement with the state granted the teacher immunity from prosecution in exchange for her testimony in the case.

Radford, who operates Legal Support Services in Chubbuck, was represented by Bannock County Public Defender Randy Schulthies.

During cross examination, the teacher told Schulthies she had no prior involvement in prostitution.

The teacher told Schulthies she had provided the names of at least two of her customers and she testified that another male subject and a Blackfoot woman were also involved in the prostitution operation with Radford.

Schulthies noted that no one else has been charged in connection to the prostitution ring.

Chubbuck police assisted the Idaho Department of Treasury in executing search warrants at Radford’s Chubbuck home and at one of his businesses in May 2015. Evidence, including text message and witness statements, led police to uncover the prostitution ring. He was arraigned on the charges on Aug. 5.

In forwarding the case to trial court, Sixth District Judge Steven A. Thomsen said evidence presented indicated a crime was committed and that Radford most likely committed the crime by posting and paying for ads for the teacher, driving her to meet customers and accepting half of the money for those pay for sex encounters.

Radford remains free on his recognizance and will be arraigned in District Court next week.

If convicted of the charges against him, Radford could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and/or fined up to $50,000.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article included the name of the teacher who testified. EastIdahoNews.com has removed her name because she was not prosecuted in this case.