Updated at 11:32 A.M. ET
VESTAL, NY (WSKG) -- An aide for New York 22nd District Congressman Anthony Brindisi has been charged with patronizing a prostitute.
John Stemen, 57, was charged with a misdemeanor after agreeing to pay $200 for a sexual date with a 17-year-old. He's scheduled to appear in Utica City Court on May 20.
Brindisi said he was disappointed in Stemen. “I commend the law enforcement for the job they did," he said. "This kind of situation should be taken very seriously and that’s why I terminated him immediately.”*
Stemen was fired from his job as a case worker with Brindisi's office on Thursday. He had worked as a communications aide to Brindisi when the Congressman was New York Assembly.
New York's 22nd district includes Chenango, Cortland, most of Broome and part of Tioga Counties.
*This story has been updated with Brindisi's response.