Crime & Safety
Updated: Businesses Protest But Officials Revoke Licenses for 2 Marion Massage Parlors in Prostitution Sting
Marion city officials revoked amusement licenses for Asian Massage and Heaven Full Body Working after a roughly two-hour public hearing and a closed session.
Representatives of two Marion massage parlors involved in a prostitution sting earlier this year attempted to rebuff charges against them as officials looked to revoke their licenses.
A representative of Heaven Full Body Working claimed through an interpreter the owner was unaware illegal activity was taking place, while the husband fo the owner of Asian Massage disputed the allegations against his wife.
Their pleas were not enough to sway Marion City Council members.
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City Council voted unanimously not to reinstate amusement licenses for the two massage parlors investigated during a prostitution sting in October. This came after a closed session and a public hearing on the issue that lasted about two hours.
To operate a massage parlor in Marion, business owner must obtain an amusement license. Asian Massage, 271 Seventh Ave., and Heaven Full Body Working, 743 10th St., lost their licenses after informants for the Marion Police Department uncovered evidence of prostitution at both locations.
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Marion Police had received many complaints against Heaven Full Body Working prior to the sting, police said on Thursday.
Before announcing a decision, Council members heard statements from attorneys and witnesses, including Marion Police Department officers involved in the sting.
Jennifer Yue Dougherty, who was charged with prostitution in connection with Asian Massage, attended the hearing, but didn’t speak. The owner of Full Body Working did not attend the hearing, but sent his girlfriend, Li-Juan Li, and an attorney, Ray Scheetz, to speak on his behalf.
In all four people were arrested in the sting.
Using an interpreter, Li, who speaks Mandarin, told council members that Fully Body Working’s owner was unaware, prior to the sting, that employees were performing illegal sex acts at his business.
Dougherty’s husband, Richard Dougherty, spoke on her behalf, saying no one informed her that it would be appropriate to bring an attorney to the hearing.
The hearing followed discussion of traffic concerns near Novak Elementary, and re-appointments of many committee and board members at Thursday’s Marion City Council Meeting. The swearing in of new Marion Police officer Jimmie Hunter was postponed due to Winter Storm Draco.