A Hernando County commissioner was charged Thursday with running a house of prostitution and reportedly exchanged room and board in exchange for sex with another man's wife.
Hernando County deputies said they were called to the Spring Hill home of Nicholas Nicholson, 71, on Feb. 20 by a call of a domestic disturbance. There, deputies found Valerie Surette, who said her husband threw a screwdriver at her, hitting her in the face.
Her husband, Kendel Surette, was charged with domestic battery.
During the investigation, investigators learned about allegations of other criminal activities taking place in the home, so the case was turned over to the sheriff's Vice and Narcotics Unit.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Kendel Surette told a reporter Nicholson housed and fed the couple in exchange for being allowed to sleep with Valerie Surette two days a week.
The newspaper also said Surette told them Nicholson allowed Valerie Surette to bring clients to the house for sex.
After an investigation, the state attorney's office charged Nicholson with own, establish, maintain, or operate any place, structure, building or conveyance for the purpose of lewdness, assignation, or prostitution and purchase the services of any person engaged in prostitution. Bail was set at $3,000.
The Hernando County Commission released a statement calling the arrest "a personal legal matter" and saying it would not comment on the case.
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