Ex-Vice Ring Prostitute Testifies That Car Dealer McCune Was a Customer

A former prostitute testified Tuesday that well-known auto dealer Tony McCune was one of her customers.

The testimony came at a preliminary hearing for Karen Wilkening, 43, alleged call-girl-ring madam. Wilkening fled to the Philippines in September 1987 while facing pimping and pandering charges. She was returned to San Diego after being arrested in Manila last month.

One of the reasons officials sought the return of Wilkening is because they hope she might be able to shed information on the suspected serial killings of women, many of whom were prostitutes, in San Diego County.

The district attorney’s office has said in court documents that National City car dealer McCune provided lawyer Buford Wiley Jr. with money for Wilkening while she was a fugitive, and McCune’s office, home and car were searched by police armed with a warrant. No charges have been filed against McCune.

Introduced by Lawyer

Both Wilkening and Wiley, her former attorney, have been charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice in connection Wilkening’s failure to appear in court in 1987.

On Tuesday, Elizabeth Morris, 38, told San Diego Municipal Judge Lisa Guy-Schall that she had sex with McCune when she worked for Wilkening.

Morris testified she met Wilkening in Mission Valley three years ago through attorney Brent Barnes.

Morris said Wilkening got her started in prostitution after she had told Barnes she had financial problems.

Barnes, 52, was charged with Wilkening in 1987. He pleaded no contest to being an accessory after the fact and received a sentence of 120 days in a work-furlough center.

In court Tuesday, Morris testified about part of the operation. “Karen would set up the appointment. She would call and tell me, ‘You are going to meet this guy,’ ” she said.

Morris said clients of the vice ring were charged $150, $50 of which went to Wilkening.

When questioned about her clients, Morris named McCune. Morris said she worked for Wilkening five months.

Morris, who was married, testified that Wilkening told her to tell her husband that she was working for a caterer while she actually was a prostitute.

Morris testified that Wilkening had few rules for the women who worked for her and that she could use her own discretion when it came to performing sexual acts with customers.

Morris said she visited Wilkening’s Linda Vista condominium several times, once with a client and the other times to pay Wilkening her cut of the money she had earned.

Testimony will continue today.