Charges: Maple Grove man who hired teen for sex nabbed with tarp, suitcase, rubber gloves in trunk

A 43-year-old man meeting for what he thought was a second sex-for-hire encounter with a 16-year-old Cottage Grove girl instead was arrested by police, who found a new tarp, an empty suitcase and rubber gloves in the trunk of the suspect's vehicle, according to charges.

Corwin T. Moose, of Maple Grove, was charged in Washington County District Court last week with two felony counts related to prostitution involving a teenager under 18, but at least 16.

Moose remains jailed in lieu of $250,000 ahead of a court appearance next week.

Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said Wednesday that the items in the trunk "tell me that we have a lot more investigating to do in this case."

According to the criminal complaint:

A sex-trafficking ad on Backpage.com led a police investigator to a 16-year-old on Sept. 15. The girl said she posted the ad because "she was in desperate need of money." She said the first man she met through the ad paid her $80 in exchange for taking nude photos of her and having intercourse in her home.

Two weeks later, the girl told the investigator that she received a text from the man and that he wanted to meet. The investigator assumed the girl's identity and exchanged 164 texts with the man, who agreed to pay $100 to meet every other week for sex.

Moose agreed to a meeting at a Holiday gas station on Oct. 1 for sex at his home.

He arrived at the gas station and was arrested. A search of the vehicle turned up the tarp, the suitcase and the gloves. Authorities searched his home and seized eight computers.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482