Some charges dismissed against massage parlor suspects - Times-News

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TWIN FALLS — Defense attorneys have been trying to chip away at charges leveled against their clients after several massage parlors charged with involvement in commercial sex activity after massage parlors were raided last fall.



Wang



They’ve had mixed success.


One woman, Limin Xu, had three of four charges dismissed after her attorney Michael Danielson made a case last month in front of District Judge William Hancock. Now, the only charge she faces is maintaining or supporting a place of commercial sex activity, records say.



Kahn



Danielson didn’t find the same success when he tried to have multiple counts dismissed against client Lang Wang. He unsuccessfully argued on Feb. 10 to have five of seven counts against her dismissed, including charges of procurement of commercial sexual activity and maintaining or supporting a place of sexual activity, and interstate trafficking in commercial sexual activity.

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The lone male charged in the incidents, Salon Kahn, faces similar charges as Wang but had one of his charges — receiving proceeds of illegal sex activity — dismissed after a motion by attorney Sharif Ghannam.


Kahn remains in custody and faces a March 11 jury trial.


Wang, Xu and Kahn were indicted in October by a grand jury when prosecutors chose to have their cases go to a grand jury instead of having a magistrate judge decide whether there was probable cause for the charges. District judges have the authority to dismiss charges if they conclude there was insufficient evidence.


Although Danielson didn’t argue that commercial sex activity didn’t occur at the massage parlors, what is at stake is what involvement the defendants had.






Defense attorneys says grand jury shouldn't have indicted client and wants indictment overturned.


Wang told investigators that she managed two massage parlors on opposite ends of Addison Avenue in Twin Falls, the Dragon and Perfect massage parlors, deputy prosecutor Gabrielle Boliou said, and rotated women in and out of the businesses.


Wang was closely connected to Kahn and the pair conspired in running commercial sex operations, as alleged in the indictment, Boliou said.


Wang previously ran massage parlors in California, she said, and she invited Kahn to travel to Idaho, agreeing to pay him $3,000 per month. Boliou said it is apparent that the two were engaged in commercial activity as he handled banking and other business.


She also cited items found in the massage parlors, including condoms, lubricant, and even revealing lingerie, as evidence Kahn knew what was occurring there.


Kahn even suggested to Wang that they open a second location, Boliou said.


The massage parlors were advertised on a website that advertises commercial sex services, she said.


Danielson argued that the massage parlor did offer legitimate services and Kahn didn’t know a portion of it came from commercial sex activity.


Judge Hancock, in his ruling the same day, said the “totality of the evidence” shows probable cause and that charges against Wang should remain.



Xu



In Xu’s case heard in January, Hancock ruled that evidence didn’t directly link the suspect to crimes involving procurement of commercial sex activity. A customer Hancock said people who received massages said that the women providing massages were in their 30s or 40s, and one regular customer said he never saw the same woman twice.


Xu is 61 years old.


Items found in the massage parlor, however, is evidence that she supported or maintained a place of commercial sex activity, Hancock ruled.


Three additional Twin Falls massage parlors had search warrants served on them in January, and an adult woman, Xiuying Guan, was cited for misdemeanor procurement of prostitution.


That case appears headed to trial.



Eric Goodell reports for the Times-News. Reach him at [email protected].

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