Couple Charged in Prostitution Case

A Ventura County couple have been charged with felony pimping and pandering after vice detectives uncovered an alleged prostitution operation at a Thousand Oaks apartment that authorities maintain was netting up to $25,000 a month.

Sheriff’s deputies said Wednesday they believe more than 100 men responded to Internet advertisements during the last six months for “sensual massages” costing between $160 and $320 per session.

A higher fee was charged for two women to perform sex acts, authorities said.

“It’s no secret, the Internet offers a large amount of businesses dealing in pornography and such. There’s definitely a lot going on everywhere, but we’re unsure how much in Ventura County,” said a detective assigned to the case who asked that his name not be used to protect his identity for undercover work.

Harry Dover, 30, of Thousand Oaks, and his girlfriend, Ursulla Jenkins, 35, of Westlake Village, were arrested Aug. 2 in the parking lot of a Thousand Oaks gym where they both exercise, authorities said.

Jenkins was charged with six felonies, including three counts each of pimping and pandering, and Dover was charged with three felony counts of pandering. Pandering is recruiting someone to be a prostitute.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to return to Superior Court on Sept. 13, said Senior Deputy Dist. Atty. David Lehr.

“These kinds of cases come up very infrequently,” Lehr said, adding that the last such case in the county was probably more than five years ago.

Jenkins and Dover were released from jail after posting $10,000 bail each. The crimes they are charged with are punishable by up to six years in prison.

The four-month investigation started after authorities received a complaint from a neighbor at the Westcreek Lane apartment complex, where the alleged ring was operating, police said.