The case of Paul Toner, the former Cambridge city councillor who was charged in March 2025 for patronizing a North Cambridge brothel network, may be resolved as soon as next month without going to trial. Toner, who served on city council for two terms between 2022 and 2025, had moved for dismissal, but that was rejected in December by judge David E. Frank. Jury selection for a trial was expected to happen during a January 30th hearing in Cambridge District Court. Instead, the hearing (which was before a different judge, Kareem A. Morgan) resulted in another arraignment session being scheduled for March 13th.
According to Cambridge District Court records, the reason for the hearing is listed as “Probable Disposition.” That language suggests Toner may be looking to avoid a trial. He is the only defendant of 33 men charged as clients of the brothel network who has not accepted a pretrial probation agreement. While the outcome won’t be known until the hearing date, it provides the opportunity for the prosecution and defense to present a resolution to the case to the judge without going to a full trial, according to the district court clerk’s office.
When the charges were filed last year, Toner said in a statement to the Boston Globe that “I caused pain for the people I care about most. For that, I will be forever sorry.” He said he would not be commenting further on the matter.
Three individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury for operating the ring, including Cambridge resident Han Lee. Lee pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce one or more individuals to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to engage in prostitution and one count of money laundering, and was sentenced to a four-year prison sentence in March 2025.
Toner remained in his seat until the end of the last council term despite calls for his resignation but declined to seek re-election. Councillor Timothy Flaherty, a first-term councillor who won a seat in November’s election, has been representing him since the charges were first filed. Flaherty did not respond to requests for comment.
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