Craig, Under Fire

South Carolina's top prosecutor threatened Tuesday to file criminal charges against Craigslist's chief executive, contending the popular internet classified ad service company hasn't done enough to stop solicitation for prostitution and obscenity on its website. South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster told The State newspaper that to his knowledge, South Carolina is the first state to explore the possibility of criminal charges against CEO Jim Buckmaster and other top officers of the San Francisco-based company.

"They've allowed prostitution to go on there and allowed obscenity to go on there," McMaster said. "It's a blatant violation of South Carolina law."

McMaster said prostitutes in South Carolina routinely advertise in the erotic services section of the website, and obscene pictures often are posted on in-state personal ads.

Over a two-year period, sheriff's deputies in Richland County have made 121 prostitution-related arrests from Craigslist ads, according to department figures provided Tuesday to The State newspaper.

"It's probably the hottest way sex is being sold," Sheriff Leon Lott said Tuesday. "No longer do they have to stand on the street and wave at cars as they come by. They just use technology."

A sampling Tuesday of ads for erotic services in the Columbia area found scantily clad women offering such things as full-body massages, lap dances and strip-tease acts. Some ads were more suggestive than others.

"I'm offering FULL service with NO restrictions," read one ad, which listed hourly rates. "I love new experiences and older men, so don't be shy. I've also discounted my rates due to the hard times."

Another ad had a disclaimer that said, "All donations and gifts are for time and companionship. This is not, nor has it ever been, an offer of prostitution."

McMaster contended Buckmaster has violated an agreement reached in November with 40 state attorneys general, including McMaster, to crack down on prostitution ads and obscene pictures on the site.

The company has been under fire since last month's arrest of a Boston pre-medical student accused of killing a 25-year-old masseuse who advertised on Craigslist and robbing or pointing a gun at two other women he met in the Northeast through the site.

Efforts to reach Craigslist officials were unsuccessful. But in a prepared statement posted Tuesday on Craigslist's blog, Buckmaster said company officials "look forward to speaking directly with Attorney General McMaster about his concerns, and finding ways to address them without compromising the utility of craigslist for South Carolinians, or anyone's constitutional rights."

Buckmaster pointed out that since the November agreement, Craigslist has "decreased misuse dramatically (approximately 90 percent)." Among other things, the agreement calls for those who advertise in the erotic services section to pay a fee with a "valid" credit card and provide a "working" telephone number.

"We urge Attorney General McMaster to look closely at the facts before proceeding with his threat," Buckmaster said.