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John Hollenhorst ReportingDeputies battered down a door today and charged a woman who lives there with operating a sex-oriented business illegally. The house is located directly across the street from a high school seminary building.
The chief of police says the investigation began with accusations that high school girls were being recruited to work as escorts.
Robby Russo, Cottonwood Heights Chief of Police: "It's been our experience that these businesses are a front for unlawful prostitution rings."
Just across the street from the seminary building at Brighton High School is a duplex, which investigators say is being used illegally to run an escort service. As the raid took place, students were walking past it on their way home from school.
Deputies arrived with a search warrant and a battering ram. They used it because no one answered the door. Investigators say an escort service called The Doll House was run, or at least partly run, from there.
The Doll House website shows several scantily clad girls offered as escorts for anyone who calls. All the girls depicted are over 19, according to the website, but officers are looking for evidence to support serious allegations.
Robby Russo, Cottonwood Heights Chief of Police: "We received some information from some Brighton High School girls that they were being targeted and solicited to engage in this sort of business, with the lure of a lot of quick money."
But when business owner Tiffany Curtis showed up while the search was in progress, she was only charged with a misdemeanor, running a sexually oriented business without a license. Her attorney says she beat similar charges before, but prosecutors came back at her again.
Attorney: "It's a little bitty teeny weeny licensing dispute, but it's got them really mad."
He says the duplex is his client's residence. The escort business, he says, is licensed in Park City.
Attorney: "You know what? If they're operating here, if they're bringing customers here, they shouldn't ought to be doing it. But I don't think so. They've been clients for a long time, and I don't think so."
The chief of police says evidence will clearly show the business is run from the duplex. Neighbors say they've seen men and young women come and go frequently.
Neighbor: "They have a photo studio in the garage and you can tell they it has a backdrop and lights and cameras and stuff like that."
The attorney says they'll beat the licesing charge again and he scoffs at the notion that his clients tried to recruit high school girls to be escorts.
Attorney: "Oh heavens, no, you know, these people are not dumb."
At last word, deputies had found no concrete evidence that any high school girls worked as escorts. If the investigation determines young women in the area were approached by the escort service, Cottonwood Height's Prosecutor will take a zero-tolerance approach.
Lohra Miller, Prosecutor, Cottonwood Heights: "People should know that we just won't tolerate any type of activity in our communities...especially the kind of activity that endangers our youth."
So what are the laws governing escort services here in Utah? Escort Services are legal, but regulated. Owners, operators and employees must all obtain sexually oriented business licenses. Annual license fees range from $200 in Murray to $800 in Salt Lake.
It is against the law, to pay for sex-acts in Utah. Soliciting sex is a Class- B misdemeanor. But, repeat offenders could end up in jail. The business could also lose its license.
