Police arrest suspected prostitute in motel with her 3 children

TACOMA, Wash. — Police say a mother was arrested on prostitution charges while her three children were with her in a Tacoma motel room.

The woman was arrested by Lakewood police, who were using ads posted on Backpage.com in an undercover sting.

The News Tribune reports that the woman, 26-year-old Shaneen Stanford, was arrested after an undercover officer arranged to meet her at the motel, where she offered him sex for money.

Her children, ages 5 to 11, were in the motel room, police said.

Both the woman, and a man who police say provided security and acted as a lookout for Standford,  pleaded not guilty Tuesday.