University of Georgia professor arrested on prostitution charges
Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office
Max Reinhart is a German literature professor at the University of Georgia.
A University of Georgia professor of German and Slavic studies has been charged with prostitution in the Atlanta suburb of Gwinnett County, officials said.
Max Reinhart, 65, was arrested Thursday after investigators answered an ad on an online message board, Backpage.com, according to local media reports. The website has an "adult" section that includes "escorts" and "bodyrubs," and has faced scrutiny over accusations that it is used to traffic underage girls for prostitution.
According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution, investigators said Reinhart placed an ad in the "Transexual Escorts" section. After spotting it, investigators arranged a meeting at a Days Inn hotel room rented by Reinhart, who went by the name "Sasha."
After they negotiated a $60 fee for services, he was arrested. He was charged with prostitution and keeping a house of prostitution, because he rented the hotel room, the Journal-Constitution reported.
Gwinnett County jail records showed he was released Thursday evening on $4,800 bond, the Journal-Constitution said.
The professor teaches German literature and history in the Germanic and Slavic studies department in the university. His primary areas of research are early modern Germany, and he founded The Conference Group for Interdisciplinary Early Modern German Studies.
The conference brings together scholars from the arts and sciences to promote German society and culture.
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University officials would not comment but told msnbc.com that they will review the incident and consider further action.
All employees of the university are required to report any arrest to the school within 72 hours or face further disciplinary action and possible termination, university officials said.
Reinhart could not be reached Friday morning for comment.
