[ back ]
Prosecutor wanted to bust spa sooner
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - September 03, 2008)
Prosecutor wanted to bust spa sooner
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
A raid was conducted last week by the Geauga County sheriff's and prosecutor's offices at a Chester Township business in connection with a sex-for-money operation.
Sixteen deputies moved on the Silver Spa at 8386 Mayfield Road (Route 322) at about 10 a.m. on Aug. 27, arresting four women inside. Police then proceeded to board up the business.
"We shut down this business, because we don't want them in our county," Geauga County Prosecutor David Joyce said following the raid.
The business, which had been in operation for about five years, was the scene of repeated complaints from residents who questioned what type of activities were occurring there, Chester Police Chief Mark Purchase said.
Mr. Joyce said officials acted on those complaints and conducted surveillance of the business for the past six months. "I apologize for not getting them out sooner," he said.
Ying Yu song, 45, Cha Yi Kim, 56, Guishun Jiang, 38, and Ming Yu Li, 37, were arraigned in Chardon Municipal Court the following day. Each remains in custody in the Geauga County Jail on $250,000 bonds.
Mr. Joyce said his office will target the owners of the business as well. "We're going after the other people involved," he said.
He said his office got the information it needed to act after picking up people observed using the services there. He said officers brought "frequent fliers" in for questioning about what was going. After telling the customers that police were well aware of the activities, seven of them acknowledged them in statements.
Mr. Joyce said he plans to seek charges of promoting prostitution, solicitation and racketeering against those involved in the operation.
The investigation was difficult, because undercover officers could not wear body wires without clothing to confirm their suspicions about the business, he said. The surveillance revolved around taking photographs of vehicles frequenting the establishment, their license plates and the customers themselves, Mr. Joyce said.
Sheriff Daniel McClelland agreed that it was not a case where officers could simply knock on the door and walk in.
Mr. Purchase said his department routinely fielded calls from concerned residents who reported suspicious activities. He said residents reported that the business seemed to be open all night and every day of the week. Residents also reported that vehicles were rarely seen in the business's parking lot, but they saw customers park across the street and walk to the business.
Chester Township Trustee Judy Caputo said the business generated discussion among the residents almost from the day it opened. She said she understood that law enforcement officials had tried their best to close the business.
"This is a wonderful day for Chester Township, if these charges stay," Mrs. Caputo said. "There has been a lot of talk and discussion since day one, but, while you think you may know and assume what it is, you still have to follow the guidelines of the law."
She said the township attempted to act by creating legislation that would regulate such businesses.
Mrs. Caputo credited Mr. Purchase with working hard to develop regulations to keep such businesses out of Chester. "With those regulations, we opened the door to doing some monitoring of those types of businesses," she said.
Mr. Purchase said the legislation adopted this summer requires licensing of the business and background checks of employees. He said a masseuse must be registered with the state medical board. He said other businesses in the township that have not applied with the township for registration soon will receive notification.
State Sen. Timothy Grendell, R-Chester resident, issued statement following the raid, commending those involved in shutting the business down.
"I first became aware of these places when I was a military prosecutor in charge of shutting them down," Mr. Grendell wrote. "More recently, I worked to pass legislation that permits local governments to regulate the hours of operation and location of various other 'adult entertainment' venues. Throughout all of this, I have been very concerned about the Silver Spa operating in our community, and so I am very pleased by today's actions."
[ back ]
