Police: hooker turned tricks while son, 7, watched

A 36-year-old woman who was arrested on charges of prostitution sometimes turned tricks in a filthy Bucks County motel room while her 7-year-old son watched, officials say.

Authorities said Catherine Thomas kept her son locked in the shower in her room at the Mall Motel on Lincoln Highway near the Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem while she entertained men.

Bensalem Public Safety Director Fred Harran said the boy prayed "to ask God for forgiveness for what he saw his mother did."

Thomas was arrested after she offered to have sex for $130 with an undercover officer of the Bensalem Special Victim's Unit.

Officers found the boy in the bathroom. Three dogs also were living in the room, police said.

Thomas was ordered held on $20,000 bail yesterday on charges of endangering the welfare of a child, prostitution and possession of marijuana.

The boy was placed in the custody of the Bucks County Children and Youth Social Services Agency. The dogs were taken to a shelter for evaluation.