Sex Church Leader in Final Stages of Prostitution Trial Likens Self to Jesus

The leader of a church that uses sex as a ritual, accused of running a house of prostitution, likened himself in court Thursday to Jesus Christ and Mormon prophet Joseph Smith who were persecuted because their beliefs contradicted established social practices.

The man, Will Tracy of Canyon Country, told a jury in Los Angeles Municipal Court that he is on trial because his church is considered bizarre by modern society. Jesus and Joseph Smith were “out of time and out of place,” he said, adding, “I’m out of time and out of place.”

Wife on Trial

Tracy, 51, is charged with one misdemeanor count of operating a house of ill fame in West Los Angeles. Also on trial is his wife, Mary Ellen Tracy, 46, who also faces one count of operating a house of ill fame and two misdemeanor counts of prostitution.

The Tracys say they have re-established an ancient Egyptian church that requires male worshipers to have sex with female priests. Mary Ellen Tracy says she has had sex with more than 2,000 men as high priestess of the Church of the Most High Goddess.

Prosecutors say the church is a front for prostitution because the men are required to make donations to the church.

Will Tracy is acting as his own attorney. His wife is represented by Deputy Public Defender Maureen J. Tchakalian.

In his closing remarks, Tracy tried to demonstrate the sincerity of his religious beliefs to a six-man, six-woman jury. If the jurors agree that he is devout, Tracy said, they must find that the donations are expressions of religious belief and not payments for sex.

Whether the jurors think that the church is fact or fantasy is not important, Tracy said. “What’s important is that we believe it,” he said.

Tracy’s closing remarks, which lasted two hours, included references to, among other things, Socrates, Plato, Jesus Christ, Mohammed, Joseph Smith, Judaism, hieroglyphics, the Pharaoh Ramses, Masonry, the summer solstice, the Book of Exodus and Stonehenge.

Vice Officer

Deputy City Atty. George Lomeli reminded jurors that a Los Angeles Police Department vice officer testified Monday that Mary Ellen Tracy had solicited $150 from the officer for sex.

Trying to raise doubts about the couple’s religious intent, Lomeli cited index cards seized by police at the church headquarters that noted the physical characteristics of men visiting the church and included descriptions of sex acts. The index cards are typical of prostitution operations, Lomeli said.

Lomeli said the sincerity of the couple’s professed beliefs is doubtful because of Mary Ellen Tracy’s unorthodox religious garb: fishnet stockings, black spike heels and a strapless red sequined dress.

Judge Marion L. Obera had expected to turn the case over to the jury Thursday, but the trial was slowed by a lengthy conference among the attorneys in the judge’s chambers over the instructions that Obera will give the jurors. Tchakalian is to continue her closing remarks today. Attorneys said the jury might not begin deliberations until next week.