KEITH WHITCOMB JR.
Staff Writer
BENNINGTON -- A Pleasant Street man pleaded not guilty Monday to allegedly paying a woman for sex using Social Security income.
Robert Bailey Sr., 68, was charged with a misdemeanor count of prohibited act -- procure and was released on conditions he not have contact with Perri Kaukas, 33.
According to an affidavit by Bennington Police Office Thomas Bull, on Jan. 4 he went to East Side Drive to speak with Kaukas, who wanted Bailey to leave as they were having an argument.
Bailey told police that he had paid Kaukas $81 the night before for sex. Kaukas said this was so. When Bailey was told he had to leave he then told police he had been paying Kaukas for sex for the past nine months. He said his brother has also done this.
"We both pay this money to her from our SSI and SSDI. We need it for food. I have not hardly any food in the house because it all goes to her for sex," Bailey wrote in a statement. Bailey said he has paid a total of $2,500 to Kaukas. He said he pays her $5 for oral sex and between $80 and $100 for intercourse.
"Bailey later in the night called me at the Bennington Police Department and advised he would no longer want to pursue criminal charges because he was at fault for paying for sex," wrote Bull.
Kaukas used the money to pay for cigarettes, lottery tickets, and food, according to a statement she gave police.
Contact Keith Whitcomb Jr. at kwhitcomb@benningtonbanner.com or follow him on Twitter @KWhitcombjr
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