Former Congressional Candidate Pleads Guilty

Benjamin Lodmell, who had hoped to unseat Congressman Joe Bonner in November, has pleaded guilty to soliciting a prostitute.

Lodmell was one of 75 people arrested January 31 during a two week undercover sting at a Daphne hotel. Lodmell offered an undercover female officer $100 for sex.

At the time of his arrest, Lodmell's attorney told News 5 that his client would continue his campaign for Congress. “He’s a committed candidate,” said Dennis Knizley. “He’s put a lot of his personal money in this and he intends to go forward with his campaign,” Knizley said.

But last Thursday, Lodmell officially withdrew his name from the District 1 race. He also shutdown his campaign website.

Today in court, Lodmell entered a plea of guilty under the District Attorney's pretrial intervention program and was sentenced to two years probation. That means, if Lodmell stays out of trouble for the next 24 months, the prostitution arrest will be erased from his record.

Lodmell is married and has school age children.