U.S. Rep. Anthony Brindisi has fired an aide in his Utica office who was charged by state police Friday with patronizing a prostitute.

John A. Stemen, 57, of Utica, was charged with the misdemeanor after agreeing to meet a 17-year-old he admitted meeting over the internet, state police said.

Troopers said Stemen admitted to agreeing to pay $200 for a sexual date. He was issued an appearance ticket to appear May 20 in Utica City Court.

Stemen did not return a message Friday.

A spokeswoman for Brindisi, D-Utica, said Stemen was fired Thursday after the congressman became aware of the charge. Stemen had worked in Brindisi’s district office in Utica as a case worker since he took office in January.

Stemen previously worked for Brindisi in the state Assembly for almost eight years as community relations director, according to Stemen’s LinkedIn profile.

Prior to working for Brindisi, Stemen worked for former Assemblywoman RoAnn DeStito, D-Utica, for 14 years. Earlier in his career, he was a news anchor and reporter in Utica and Palm Beach, Fla.

Brindisi served in the state Assembly for seven years before the was elected to Congress in November. He represents the 22nd Congressional District, which covers all of Madison, Oneida, Cortland and Chenango counties and portions of Oswego, Broome, Herkimer, and Tioga counties.

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