OXNARD : Model Firm Owner Guilty of Pimping

An Oxnard man accused of running a major prostitution operation was convicted Wednesday of three counts of pimping and eight counts of pandering.

Henry Hardy Jr., 36, owner of the defunct Stardust Modeling Agency on Saviers Road, was also convicted of possession of marijuana for sale. He faces a minimum of three years in prison and a maximum of 12, attorneys said.

The Ventura County Superior Court jury deliberated for 4 1/2 days before returning its verdicts. It acquitted Hardy of two additional counts of pandering and could not reach a verdict on three more.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Michael K. Frawley said the verdicts will send a message to other Ventura County firms that advertise models but provide prostitutes.

“There hasn’t been a case like this in the county for several years,” he said. “It shows we can and will deal with it.”

Frawley said customers paid Hardy’s business $100 to spend half an hour in a private room with one of the agency’s employees, who described themselves as models or dancers.

Hardy instituted strict rules to distance himself from the women and their activities, the prosecutor said. But on most of the charges, Frawley apparently convinced the jury that Hardy knew what was going on.

The business operated from 1987 until last Feb. 20, when investigators using a search warrant raided it and shut it down.

Hardy’s attorney, Steven D. Powell, declined to comment.

The district attorney’s office has filed a civil action aimed at seizing Hardy’s Oxnard house, on the theory that his $60,000 down payment was obtained illicitly.

Judge Lawrence Storch scheduled Hardy’s sentencing for Oct. 2.