Police: Senator's husband paid prostitute

TROY, Michigan (AP) -- The husband of U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow told police he used the Internet to make a date with a prostitute and paid her $150 for sex at a hotel, according to a police report.

Thomas Athans, 46, co-founder of the liberal TalkUSA Radio network, was stopped by police who were investigating Internet-based prostitution at the hotel, according to a police report obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press under the state Freedom of Information Act.

The Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News first reported on the case in stories on their Web sites.

Stabenow, in a statement, said it was "very disturbing and serious. Obviously it's a deeply difficult and personal matter."

Troy police had set up a stakeout at the Residence Inn after learning of suspected prostitution at a room there February 25, the police report said. Officers said they saw Athans enter the room February 26 and leave 15 minutes later.

They stopped Athans' car and informed him they were investigating prostitution.

"Mr. Athans informed officers that he had just met a female at the Residence Inn, where he paid $150 for sex," the report said. It said the woman performed oral sex on Athans.

Police did not bring any sex charges against him but later mailed him a ticket for driving with a suspended license.

Athans paid a $115 fine and reinstated his license, the News said.

Athans was cooperative and "didn't drop any names or ask for preferential treatment," said department spokesman Lt. Gerry Scherlinck.

Police arrested Alycia Martin, 20, of Westland in the hotel room on a charge of prostitution and confiscated a cell phone, laptop and $431. There is no telephone listing for her in Westland.

Martin was freed on a $100 cash bond. She was arraigned March 12 in Troy District Court and returns for a pretrial hearing April 22. She did not have an attorney of record on Wednesday.

Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, and Athans married in 2003.

He started TalkUSA Radio in 2006 after leading programming at Air America, the liberal network that declared bankruptcy that year. E-mail to a friend

All About Michigan • U.S. Senate