Money for sex leads to bigger issue

It may be the world's oldest profession, but prostitution, with few arrests and lightly prosecuted, is alive and well on the streets of Tulare County.

Law enforcement officers call it an underground crime. In most cases, it’s a misdemeanor that rarely brings jail time, making it hard to keep recidivism down.

In Visalia and Tulare, police say it’s nearly impossible to make an arrest without hours of surveillance and undercover operations. Instead, they rely on the community.

“We target businesses we get complaints on,” said Visalia Sgt. Randy Lentzner. “We rely on tips that come in from the public, including neighboring businesses, who suspect illegal activity.”

It was a call to police that led to an undercover sting that busted a 53-year-old woman on Wednesday. Police parked out front for more than an hour waiting for an undercover officer to give them the green light to make an arrest.

The typical 30-minute massage is around $40, Lentzner said. Adding sexual services usually ranges from $80 to $150. These extra services are anything from intimate touching to sex, he said.

The crime has been called victimless. Witnesses said dozens of men walked into the massage business on Princeton Avenue every single day, most of them in their 60s or 70s.

“I am more concerned with the drug dealers and gangs on the corner,” said Mike Flores, who does maintenance in the area of Princeton and Central Street. “I was rooting that the police were here to bust the drug dealers.”

An adoption agency and medical marijuana recommendation clinic share the building with the now closed massage parlor. They didn’t suspect a thing, employees said.

Part of the struggle in combating the crime is the punishment. Penalties range from STD testing to community service. Jail time, if any, is fewer than 10 days.

In 2015, the District Attorney’s Office filed prostitution charges 26 times. Last year, that number nearly doubled.

Kerri Lopez, an assistant district attorney, says the issue is far bigger than money for sex, though.

“Over the last few years, the thinking has changed that those engaging in prostitution might actually be the victim of something larger, like human trafficking,” she said. “This is especially true when talking about minors.”

Law enforcement is more aware of the larger issue now, but can’t force prostitutes to reveal how they got into the business.

“Many of the masseuses are being trafficked from out of town, mainly from Los Angeles and its surrounding area,” Lentzner said. “We explain to them there are services available, but the masseuses usually claim they do not need any services and they are here voluntarily.”

When a masseuse is cited for prostitution, they tend to leave town, he added. Code enforcement officers often accompany police to check masseuses for proper licenses after a sting. If they don’t have valid permits, the business is closed.