Split Verdict Delivered in Sex-for-Tix Case

Susan Finkelstein was found not guilty of prostitution, but was found guilty of criminal attempt

A jury has delivered a split verdict in the case of sex-for-World Series tickets levied against Susan Finkelstein.

Finkelstein, 44, was found not guilty on a Prostitution charge, but guilty on the charge of Criminal Attempt of Prostitution late Thursday afternoon.

The married, West Philadelphia mother was accused of propositioning an undercover Bensalem Township Police officer in October 2009 after he responded to a Craigslist ad full of sexual undertones asking for World Series tickets.

In the ad, the married, mother of two called herself a creative "gorgeous tall buxom blond" who was "in desperate need" of tickets.

Finkelstein originally faced a third charge of Promoting Prostitution -- the most serious of the three -- but it was dropped on January 29.

During a preliminary hearing in December, the officer testified Finkelstein sent him topless photos before agreeing to a meeting at Manny Brown's inside the Neshamity Mall.

He testified Finkelstein told him she was "a prostitute" and "a whore" who "loves sex." He also testified Finkelstein allegedly "spread her legs" and asked the officer "would you like to touch it?"

"I seriously don’t think I did anything wrong by writing an ad that was cheeky," she said in December.

Finkelstein denies the notion that she ever hooked or sent photos. She swore to those statements while on the stand Thursday.

Finkelstein's friend Judy Kroll also testified during the trial's second day. Afterward she told NBC Philadelphia the entire case is "just ridiculous."

"Like her attorney said 'Is she goofy, is she a little eccentric?' you know, yea she's always been like that," Kroll said. "But did she commit a crime? No, she's just a Jewish girl from Northeast Philadelphia."

Finkelstein's attorney Bill Brennan says both sides made a good case, but believed there wasn't enough evidence to make a conviction.

The trial was quick -- only lasting two days -- with a verdict being delivered a little more than three hours after jurors began deliberations.

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