He ordered a hooker for $200, but instead was beaten and robbed at motel, police say

Call it the world's oldest profession meets the old bait-and-switch.

A man arranged to meet up with a prostitute for $200 at a Fairview Township motel, but instead, he was bum-rushed by several people who beat him and took his money, according to charging documents.

Fairview Township Police are now looking for four people in connection with the alleged incident, which occurred Saturday morning:

• Stefan Marquise Saunders, 22, of the first block of West Carey Street, Wilkes Barre.

• Matthew J. Barber, 24, of the first block of West Market Street, Wilkes Barre.

• Shade Kier Carrion, 25, of the 1100 block of Campbell Way, Tobyhanna.

• Emily Ann Merth, 25, of the first block of Brookside Street, Wilkes Barre.

All four face numerous charges, including robbery, burglary, theft and simple assault.

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Saunders and Barber are also charged with possession of an instrument of crime with intent. Saunders is also charged with firearms not to be carried without a license.

First encounter with police

Fairview Township Police first came in contact with the four suspects about 1:45 a.m. in the 100 block of Limekiln Road when they responded to a disturbance.

Merth was behind the wheel of a 2008 silver Mercedes-Benz, with Barber, Saunders and Carrion as passengers.

"Emily explained that they had just arrived in the area from Wilkes Barre, and that she got into an argument with Barber about money," documents state.

During the investigation, an officer spotted a gun protruding from a small bag Saunders was holding. Saunders told police he did not have a valid license to carry the gun, while Barber, who also had a gun, did have a valid permit.

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The officer locked Saunders' gun in the trunk of the Mercedes-Benz and told him he would be charged with carrying a firearm without a license.

The officer then concluded his investigation.

Assault and robbery

At 4:23 a.m. the same morning, police responded to the Super 8 Motel, 175 Beacon Hill Blvd., for a report of a robbery.

Once there, they spoke with a male victim who said he found an ad on a website for a "female escort" and began texting her. They arranged to meet at the motel for $200, documents state.

Scanning surveillance footage, police saw the same silver Mercedes-Benz with the four individuals pull into the motel parking lot just after 2:30 a.m. Carrion got out of the car and knocked on the victim's door, according to documents.

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The victim, thinking Carrion was the escort, allowed her into his room. Merth waited outside the room for about three minutes before entering the room as well.

A few minutes later, Merth left the room and let Saunders and Barber inside.

"Saunders and Barber both displayed handguns and demanded money from the victim," according to documents. 

The victim initially refused to tell the men that his wallet was hidden under the mattress.

"Saunders then began beating the victim in his face until the wallet was eventually found," documents state.

The victim suffered numerous cuts and bruising. Saunders took the victims' wallet, which contained $200 and credit cards, then hopped in the Mercedes-Benz with the other three, making a getaway.

Ted Czech is a multi-platform crime/emergency journalist with The York Daily Record. He can be reached at tczech@ydr.com, at 717-771-2033 or on Twitter at @TedCzechYDR