Updated: Prostitution Charges Against Woodbury Masseuse Dismissed

A Woodbury-based massage therapist who was accused of prostitution had her case dismissed Thursday morning in Washington County District Court.

Plymouth resident Chulalak Ratsbouth, 28, who worked under the name "Victoria" at Oriental Touch Massage in Woodbury, had denied the charges of gross misdemeanor prostitution.

Her attorney, Ryan Garry, told Patch that the charges were dismissed because police broke protocol while conducting the investigation.

He says the police report indicates that the officer's genitals were rubbed for 30-60 minutes—and that's what was called into question. Despite her pleas of innocence, the police's account of 30 minutes was excessive, Garry said.

“The officer ended up going too far,” he said. “It’s just dirty.”

Woodbury Public Safety Chief Lee Vague said that the defense strategy was to “out” the department’s undercover officer, and he didn’t want to do that for fear of jeopardizing the larger investigation.

“That means, if we have to let it go, we have to let it go,” Vague said this morning. “It’s not ideal, but at the end of the day we have to protect our officers.”

As for the allegations that the undercover officer broke protocol, Vague said: “That’s just wrong.”

“This is an experienced undercover officer and I have a lot of faith and trust that he made the right decisions,” he said.

If not for the fact that the officer would have to reveal his identity, “we’d be happy to take this thing to trial,” Vague said.

The larger investigation linked to this case will continue, he said.

Ratsbouth has consistently denied anything sexual happened, Garry said, and she was pleased with the outcome of the case.

“She was ecstatic—very relieved to have it over with,” he said. 

There is precedent for courts dismissing similar cases, Garry said. “The cop sunk himself.”