Breaking News: Curtis alleged victim in gay sex extortion
Tuesday, October 30, 2007 2:46 PM PDT
By Erik Olson / The Daily News
Printable version
E-mail this articleState Rep. Richard Curtis, R-La Center, was allegedly the victim of an extortion plot to expose his gay lifestyle following a tryst with another man in his Spokane hotel room last week, according to an affidavit Spokane Police filed Tuesday morning.
After Curtis, 48, met a man identified as Cody M. Castagna at the Hollywood Erotic Boutique in Spokane early Friday morning, the two allegedly returned to Curtis' room at the Davenport Hotel in downtown Spokane, where, according to the affidavit, they engaged in "mutual sexual activities." Afterward, Curtis fell asleep, according to the affidavit.
Castagna left the hotel with Curtis' wallet, according to the affidavit, then later called Curtis and threatened to expose Curtis' gay lifestyle to his wife unless the lawmaker paid him $1,000.
Curtis, whose district includes Kalama and Woodland and parts of Clark County, was in Spokane to attend a GOP legislative retreat.
Curtis did not return phone calls to his district office in Battle Ground for comment Tuesday. Curtis told The Columbian newspaper of Vancouver Monday that he did not engage in any sexual activity with a man.
It was unclear Tuesday how police became alerted to the alleged extortion demand.
Castagna later admitted to a Spokane detective that he had threatened to expose Curtis for a payment of $1,000, according to the affidavit, signed by Spokane Police Detective Mark Burbridge.
He also told police Curtis had purchased two gay pornographic films to watch in his hotel room, according to the affidavit.
Curtis, however, told the detective he gave Castagna $100 for gas money and insisted the money was not in exchange for sex, according to the affidavit. Curtis did tell police he met Castagna at the Hollywood Erotic Boutique earlier that day, according to the affidavit.
Spokane police are seeking a search warrant for video surveillance records at the Hollywood Erotic Boutique and Davenport Hotel as well as movie rental records to Curtis' room, according to the affidavit.
Curtis, who is in his second two-year term in the Legislature, is a former La Center city councilman and Vancouver fire captain.
Lisa Fenton, a spokeswoman for the House Republican caucus, said she did not know if Curtis would release a statement on his own or through the caucus' communications office.
See Wednesday's Daily News for more details, reaction.
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