LISBON — Perry Township Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Anthony Frank Constantino has been placed on leave until further notice after being caught up in an alleged sex sting operation in East Palestine Friday.

A pretrial was set at 9:30 a.m. March 25 for Constantino, 48, West Pershing Street, Salem, when he appeared for arraignment Tuesday in Columbiana County Municipal Court for misdemeanor charges of engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools.

He entered a not guilty plea to both counts.

The charges stem from an incident when he was accused of allegedly responding to an undercover ad on a known prostitution website and arranging for sexual activity with a woman in exchange for money, then driving to East Palestine on Friday for the meeting with the phone used to make the arrangements in his possession, according to an affidavit by an agent with the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force. The affidavit said he asked the “woman” if she was law enforcement or the police.

When he arrived at the meeting location, he was met by the agent and East Palestine police officers.

Constantino was released from jail on a recognizance bond.

When contacted about the arrest, Perry Township Fire Chief Brandon Smith said he had no comment at this time since it’s an active court case. He became aware of the situation on Friday and confirmed that Constantino was placed on leave. Constantino has been with the department for a long time.