Former prostitute testifies in trial

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The woman police said was a prostitute at the time she had a relationship with former Austin police officer Scott Michael Lando took the stand Wednesday morning in Lando's prostitution trial.

While on the stand, Denise Pfeiffer admitted to the jury to having been a prostitute. Pfeiffer served 10 days in jail after pleading "no contest" and being convicted of prostitution in 2005, a Class B misdemeanor.

Lando's trial began Tuesday for charges the officer gave Pfeiffer cocaine and other drugs in exchange for sex while wearing his badge. Other charges of prostitution, aggravated assault by a public servant and misuse of information are still outstanding.

In her testimony, Pfeiffer said Lando was unhappy with his relationship with his wife, saying that's why he kept coming to Pfeiffer. And while in jail, Pfeiffer said he never came to see her, even though he was on the visitation list.

Pfeiffer said she didn't try to get Lando in trouble with the law but that she never lied when questions were asked about her relationship with him or about what happened.

Meanwhile, the defense tried to show she had changed her stories about when and where things happened. However, Pfeiffer said they happened a while back and that sometimes that makes tough to remember.

Defense attorney Travis Williamson has pointed out numerous times that Pfeiffer has changed her story throughout the investigation and that the jury will see she is not credible.

Both sides made their opening arguments Tuesday, though the key witness in this trial looks to be the former prostitute Lando is accused of giving drugs to in exchange for sex.

Lando is facing several charges of prostitution, delivery of a controlled substance and aggravated assault by a public servant for incidents that go back to May 2006.

Lando was an officer for Austin Police Department, and in his line of work, he had access to drugs from dealings with drug dealers.

In its opening arguments, the state said Lando delivered some of those drugs to Pfieffer.

Lando's former colleagues at APD, those officers who worked alongside him, testified on the first day of testimony. The evidence heard in this trial is only for charges of delivery of a controlled substance.

The state can later decide to go forth on the misuse of official information, prostitution and aggravated assault by a public servant charges.