City Sues Massage Parlor Over Alleged Prostitution

City Atty. James K. Hahn filed suit Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court against the owner of a Van Nuys massage parlor that he described as a “front for prostitution.”

Song Cha Kim, 35, of Panorama City, owner of A-1 Pain Relief massage parlor in the 14400 block of Hamlin Street, and Thomas May of Beverly Hills, owner of the commercial building that housed the parlor, were named in the civil suit.

Filed under the California Red Light Abatement Act, the suit seeks “an injunction that would put an end to the prostitution activities,” said Deputy City Atty. Henry A. Burr III. Prosecutors are also seeking restrictions on the future operation of the property, including a requirement that May evict any tenants who have been arrested for prostitution.

Kim, who has not formerly responded to the lawsuit, called the allegations of prostitution “a bunch of lies.”

An investigation into the activities at the parlor began in 1989 after “friends and relatives of customers” complained of prostitution there, Burr said. In November of that year the Los Angeles Police Commission, which is responsible for issuing permits to massage parlors, began proceedings to revoke the parlor’s license because of the allegations.

Before the proceedings were completed “Kim notified the commission that she had gone out of business,” Hahn said.

But six months later, vice officers from the Los Angeles Police Department found that the parlor was still in business, and “it was still operating as a front for prostitution,” Hahn said.

“Employees at the parlor admitted to police during the Nov. 15 inspection that they regularly performed sex acts for customers in return for money.”

Undercover officers returned two nights later and “observed two massage technicians engaged in sexual acts with customers.”

One employee was arrested for solicitation after she propositioned an undercover officer, Burr said.

Kim said she has operated the parlor on Hamlin Street for about two years. She denied that the officer was propositioned.

Kim said the parlor has been closed since November and that there are plans to replace it with a skin care parlor. May could not be reached for comment.

The California Red Light Abatement Act, used frequently against brothels and sex bookstores, was designed to prevent sexually oriented businesses from being a public nuisance or attracting criminals.