A former Connecticut State Trooper has been charged with prostitution and her case has been continued to July 19.
Authorities arrested Pearl Kelly-Paris just after 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 31.
NBC Connecticut obtained court documents that state she was running an illegal business with her husband while still on the force.
The State Police Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force began an investigation 11 months ago after receiving information from federal authorities regarding possible prostitution activities in Connecticut.
Kelly-Paris, 43, of New Britain, retired from the State Police in 2010, before the prostitution investigation began, according to Lt. Paul Vance. She had also worked as a state correction officer, Vance said.
NBC Connecticut went to her New Britain home, but no one answered the door. Her neighbors were shocked by the allegations.
“I'm surprised especially living in this part of town,” said Jeanette Thomas
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The arrest warrant charging Kelly-Paris was sealed, but her husband’s wasn’t and it detailed some disturbing allegations.
The paperwork stated that in 2010, when she was still working as a state trooper, her husband was renting rooms for prostitutes in the Super 8 and Motel 6 in Rocky Hill and often used her name.
According to one of their supposed prostitutes, she saw Kelly-Paris drive up in a police cruiser wearing her uniform and met up with her husband, then gave him a digital camera. That woman alleged that he then took pictures of the girls working for him to post prostitution ads on Craigslist.
“A state trooper is supposed to protect the place ... not bring that kind of trash in,” Thomas said.
In the arrest warrant, that prostitute told investigators Kelly-Paris would take the “dates” if customers were interested in someone older and the workers were instructed to call her if someone made the request.
State police said they started investigating her after she left the force and still have a lot of unanswered questions.
Both Kelly-Paris and her husband Jaykuan Paris are facing criminal charges in connection with the crime.
Kelly-Paris was released on a $50,000 bond. She was scheduled to appear in court June 11 but the case was continued.
