NASHUA – Police in recent days arrested ten men from New Hampshire and Massachusetts – including David Wihby, state director for U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte – on charges related to the solicitation of prostitution in Nashua, police said.

In addition to being Ayotte’s second-highest ranking state official, Wihby, 62, of 540 Kerney Circle, Manchester, is also the vice chairman of the Manchester school board and a former Manchester alderman.

Ayotte named him the director of her New Hampshire office just over a year ago, when she appointed previous state director Orville “Bud” Fitch as her legal counsel.

Ayotte, a Nashua resident, late Saturday issued a brief statement in which she reacted to Wihby’s arrest and announced his resignation.

“I am shocked and deeply saddened that David Wihby, my state director and a friend for many years, has been arrested under these circumstances,” Ayotte said. “David obviously cannot continue his duties, and I have accepted his resignation.

“This is a very difficult time, and my thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved.”

Nashua police Capt. Denis Linehan said Wihby was arrested early Friday afternoon at a Nashua hotel, one of two that were involved in the investigation. Wihby was one of seven men arrested Friday, while the other three were arrested March 27.

All 10 were charged with one misdemeanor count of prostitution-related solicitation.

Police said the arrests were made by members of the department’s Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Unit. Police didn’t identify the two hotels.

Linehan said Sunday that police launched an investigation in response to complaints by hotel officials of suspicious activity.

During the investigation, in which police utilized a confidential informant, the men allegedly responded to women’s online advertisements, then agreed in telephone conversations to meet at one of the hotels, where police arrested them, Linehan said.

Besides Wihby, those arrested on April 3 and charged with one misdemeanor count of prostitution-related offenses were:

? Sean Cullinane, 38, 2 Hemlock St., Hudson

? John McCormack, 51, 39 Stearns Road, Amherst

? Beau Burgess, 31, 6 Depot St., Merrimack. Burgess was also charged with possession of cocaine, a felony.

? Kevin Clark, 54, 122 Poplar St., Manchester

? Milas Thompson, 28, 44 Bald Hill Road, Raymond

? Robert Seely, 64, 20 Leyden St., North Andover, Mass.

All were released on $2,000 personal recognizance bail except Burgess, who was released on $300 cash bail.

All are scheduled to be arraigned in Nashua district court on May 11 except for Cullinane, who is scheduled for May 12.

Arrested on March 27 were:

? Eric Suliveras, 48, 70 Little River Road, Kingston

? Craig Mitchell, 24, 31 Faith Ave., Dracut, Mass.

? John Ashford, 36, 2 N. Main St., Westford, Mass.

Ashford and Mitchell were each released on $160 cash bail; Suliveras was released on $2,000 personal recognizance bail.

All three are scheduled for arraignment on May 4 in Nashua district court.

Wihby, meanwhile, is regarded as a skilled political insider whose experience in state and local government … “will help me continue to provide New Hampshire citizens with the efficient and effective constituent service they deserve,” Ayotte said when appointing Wihby state director in February 2014.

Before he joined Ayotte’s staff, Wihby served 25 years as deputy commissioner of the state Department of Labor.

Dean Shalhoup can be reached at 594-6443, dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com or @Telegraph_DeanS.