Prostitution charges were handed out Friday in Hall County court, after an investigation at The Edge in Alda.

Most associate prostitution with larger cities, so some find it shocking to see this come out of a small town bar. But just how common is prostitution in the Grand Island area? 

Hall County Chief Deputy Chris Rea told NTV News Friday that this is only the second prostitution case he's seen.  But the Crisis Center director said it's been around, and is only now becoming more well known. 

What appeared to be just dancing for tips at The Edge in Alda alledgely turned to prostituion. A former employee and customer face three counts related to pandering and child
abuse of two dancers. Charges Larry Davidson says his bar is no part of.

"They dance out here on tips, otherwise they're not part of the bar," he said of the two girls authorities say were enticed into become prostitutes.

Davidson said he didn't know about the alleged prostitution, though he's unsure if
customers knew.

"I don't know if they really knew or not, it was something never really discussed."

But Shelly Pointer of the Crisis Center knew all along.

"I've known there's been prostitution in the area for the last year, at least. I've known
about the Edge, I've heard the rumors," she said.

Pointer said it's hard to tell how many prostitutes are in the area.

"They're ashamed to admit it."

Pointer said they're almost always victims of sexual abuse first; some are molested at an early age and enticed into prostitution at an early age. "The entry-level age is 13," she said.

She said others become prostitutes after they leave their abusive boyfriend or husband.

"That's the only way they know how to make some fast money to be able to survive. So I'm not
surprised it's here because we have abusive relationships in Grand Island every day," she said.

Pointer said now, the prostitution has just become more well known. 

"It's the economy, it's fast money," she said.

But it's money Davidson doesn't want his bar to be associated with. Tips for dancing is all he wants to see.

"It gives us kind of a bad image that I don't need out here," he said.

Reporter's Notes:

Davidson said the Hall County Sheriff's Department has not questioned his role in this case, although one of the alleged prostitutes he hired to dance is just 17-years-old. The state law says dancers must be 18. He said she used a fake ID to dance.

Davidson said he tries to run a clean business, and donates a portion of bar tips to Hope Harbor (a center for abused women and children) every Christmas.

The preliminary hearing for Farmer and Spates is set for July 28th.

For abused women seeking help, the Crisis Center allows victims to stay anywhere from three days to four weeks, depending on the case.  Their phone number is: 308-381-0555.