May 16, 2011
Two women arrested for prostitution at spa

SALEM — Police raided a Main Street spa Friday, arresting two women for prostitution in an investigation dubbed "Operation Bunny Ranch."

xxxx xxxxxx, xx, of xxxxx, the owner of ETEA Weight Loss Spa at 282 Main St., was charged with counts of felony and misdemeanor prostitution. Employee xxxxx xxxxx, xx, of xxxxx was charged with misdemeanor prostitution.

Police spent two weeks investigating the spa, taking the women into custody on arrest warrants Friday afternoon. Police received reports early this month of "sexual conduct" taking place at the end of massages at the spa, according to Deputy police Chief Shawn Patten.

Police were told the massages were being performed by untrained and unlicensed masseuses, Patten said. The massages were allegedly advertised on Craigslist.org and other classified advertising sites.

One masseuse had $4,800 in cash, Patten said, which she described as "tip money."

The Salem Health Department issued a cease and desist order to the spa; the information will be forwarded to the state licensing board.

Both women were released on personal recognizance bail, pending arraignment in Salem District Court.




July 27, 2011
Woman charged with prostitution reaches plea deal

SALEM — xxxxx xxxxx, xx, of xxxxx reached a plea agreement with prosecutors yesterday in a prostitution case dating back to May.

xxxxx, originally facing two Class A misdemeanor charges of prostitution, agreed to plead guilty to a single Class B misdemeanor charge of obscenity. She was fined $500, with $250 suspended for two years. She also agreed not to work at a Salem spa for 10 years.

Police raided ETEA Weight Loss Spa at 282 Main St. in May after a two-week investigation. Spa owner xxxx xxxxxx, xx, of xxxxx was charged with felony and misdemeanor prostitution.

Last month, in her own plea deal, xxxxxx pleaded guilty to two Class A misdemeanor obscenity charges. She also pleaded guilty to a Class B misdemeanor assault charge.

xxxxxx was sentenced to a year in jail, all suspended, and a $250 fine. She relinquished her massage therapy license and agreed not to operate a massage business in Salem for 10 years.

"With the guilty pleas of both people involved in that case, that closes that particular case," Deputy police Chief Shawn Patten said yesterday.

But, Patten said, prostitution is an ongoing problem in Salem and police continue to work to stop it.

Both stories in Eagle-Tribune.