La Mesa Spa Plans Called Contrary to Public Morals

A nude spa that has billed itself as “church-operated” was challenged by about a dozen clergymen and school officials in a public hearing Thursday on the spa’s application for a business license.

The 5 1/2-hour hearing was held to determine whether the spa violates a La Mesa ordinance that prohibits commercial activities “contrary to the public peace or morals.” City officials denied the spa a license on those grounds in June, but were ordered last month by a San Diego Superior Court judge to hold a hearing on the issue.

The spa is run by self-styled pastor Thad Poppell, a member of the mail-order Universal Life Church.

Poppell was forced to close a nude spa he ran in San Diego. Arrests made at a “party house” he ran in Solana Beach led to his conviction for running a house of prostitution.

The La Mesa hearing is being conducted by La Mesa attorney Robert Rice, who was appointed by the City Council. Rice said he would make a recommendation to the council members before their next meeting on Aug. 13.

Poppell’s attorney, Thomas Homann, called no witnesses to testify but cross-examined the city witnesses on their definition of public morals.

“I think public morality should reflect all of the people, not just the insular group of people who live in La Mesa,” he said in his closing arguments. Homann said the city would be overruling the state Legislature if it denies Poppell a license.

“This is a very traditional, very conservative community,” La Mesa-Spring Valley School District Supt. Warren Hogarth said after the hearing. “This thing (the spa) is within two blocks of an elementary school. . . . This is not something that the people of La Mesa would see as normal, or even reasonable.”

Under the court order, the council must decide on the license before Aug. 26.