Massage parlor worker positive for HIV
Authorities urge clients of Norton business to be tested for virus
By Gina Mace
Special to the Beacon Journal
Published on Saturday, Nov 08, 2008
NORTON: Authorities say a woman arrested this week for prostitution at a Norton massage parlor is HIV positive.
And health officials are urging anyone who may have engaged in sex with the woman who worked at Lily Spa at 3051 Barber Road be tested for the virus that causes AIDS.
Authorities raided the spa on Tuesday. Hyang Rae Kim of Barber Road and Yong Howski, 54, of Green, were arrested, Norton police said.
Kim faces a charge of prostitution with HIV. Howski is charged with promoting prostitution.
Both charges are felonies punishable by one to five years in prison.
The women appeared in Barberton Municipal Court on Friday before Judge David Fish. Howski is free on bond, while Kim remains in the Summit County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bond.
Kim's attorney, Lawrence Whitney, declined to comment. He said he is still reviewing the evidence police say they have against his client.
Attorney James Burdon represents Howski.
The arrests came after an Akron vice detective posed as a
customer and visited the Lily Spa, said Norton Police Chief Thad Hete.
''We asked Akron vice to work with us because our detectives are so recognizable in this city,'' he said.
Authorities say the detective paid $80 for a massage. The women were arrested after Howski took the detective's money and Kim attempted to have sex with the officer during the massage, Hete said.
Norton police say the two have been arrested for prostitution in five states. Authorities say the criminal background check revealed that Kim tested positive for HIV more than two years ago. She also disclosed the medical condition to Norton investigators, court records show.
Norton detectives John Dalessandro said the department is awaiting records from Columbus about Kim's HIV status.
He said they are also attempting to verify other information about Kim — such as her age — as she carried multiple IDs, all with conflicting information.
Fish has ordered Kim to undergo another HIV test because of her arrest on a sex charge.
Barberton Health Commissioner Paulette Kline said the department was alerted by police about the health concern.
Kline said anyone who visited the massage parlor should call the health district office at 330-745-6067 for education and testing referrals.
Norton Prosecutor Holly Reese said prostitution is normally a misdemeanor, but she authorized the felony charge when told about Kim's positive HIV test.
If it can be proved that any spa client contracted the virus, Reese said, more serious charges could be filed against Kim.
''[Prostitution] is not such an innocent thrill for these guys who could get the disease,'' Reese said.
<!--endclickprintinclude-->NORTON: Authorities say a woman arrested this week for prostitution at a Norton massage parlor is HIV positive.
And health officials are urging anyone who may have engaged in sex with the woman who worked at Lily Spa at 3051 Barber Road be tested for the virus that causes AIDS.
Authorities raided the spa on Tuesday. Hyang Rae Kim of Barber Road and Yong Howski, 54, of Green, were arrested, Norton police said.
Kim faces a charge of prostitution with HIV. Howski is charged with promoting prostitution.
Both charges are felonies punishable by one to five years in prison.
The women appeared in Barberton Municipal Court on Friday before Judge David Fish. Howski is free on bond, while Kim remains in the Summit County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bond.
Kim's attorney, Lawrence Whitney, declined to comment. He said he is still reviewing the evidence police say they have against his client.
Attorney James Burdon represents Howski.
The arrests came after an Akron vice detective posed as a
customer and visited the Lily Spa, said Norton Police Chief Thad Hete.
''We asked Akron vice to work with us because our detectives are so recognizable in this city,'' he said.
Authorities say the detective paid $80 for a massage. The women were arrested after Howski took the detective's money and Kim attempted to have sex with the officer during the massage, Hete said.
Norton police say the two have been arrested for prostitution in five states. Authorities say the criminal background check revealed that Kim tested positive for HIV more than two years ago. She also disclosed the medical condition to Norton investigators, court records show.
Norton detectives John Dalessandro said the department is awaiting records from Columbus about Kim's HIV status.
He said they are also attempting to verify other information about Kim — such as her age — as she carried multiple IDs, all with conflicting information.
Fish has ordered Kim to undergo another HIV test because of her arrest on a sex charge.
Barberton Health Commissioner Paulette Kline said the department was alerted by police about the health concern.
Kline said anyone who visited the massage parlor should call the health district office at 330-745-6067 for education and testing referrals.
Norton Prosecutor Holly Reese said prostitution is normally a misdemeanor, but she authorized the felony charge when told about Kim's positive HIV test.
If it can be proved that any spa client contracted the virus, Reese said, more serious charges could be filed against Kim.
''[Prostitution] is not such an innocent thrill for these guys who could get the disease,'' Reese said.
Authorities urge clients of Norton business to be tested for virus
By Gina Mace
Special to the Beacon Journal
Published on Saturday, Nov 08, 2008
NORTON: Authorities say a woman arrested this week for prostitution at a Norton massage parlor is HIV positive.
And health officials are urging anyone who may have engaged in sex with the woman who worked at Lily Spa at 3051 Barber Road be tested for the virus that causes AIDS.
Authorities raided the spa on Tuesday. Hyang Rae Kim of Barber Road and Yong Howski, 54, of Green, were arrested, Norton police said.
Kim faces a charge of prostitution with HIV. Howski is charged with promoting prostitution.
Both charges are felonies punishable by one to five years in prison.
The women appeared in Barberton Municipal Court on Friday before Judge David Fish. Howski is free on bond, while Kim remains in the Summit County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bond.
Kim's attorney, Lawrence Whitney, declined to comment. He said he is still reviewing the evidence police say they have against his client.
Attorney James Burdon represents Howski.
The arrests came after an Akron vice detective posed as a
customer and visited the Lily Spa, said Norton Police Chief Thad Hete.
''We asked Akron vice to work with us because our detectives are so recognizable in this city,'' he said.
Authorities say the detective paid $80 for a massage. The women were arrested after Howski took the detective's money and Kim attempted to have sex with the officer during the massage, Hete said.
Norton police say the two have been arrested for prostitution in five states. Authorities say the criminal background check revealed that Kim tested positive for HIV more than two years ago. She also disclosed the medical condition to Norton investigators, court records show.
Norton detectives John Dalessandro said the department is awaiting records from Columbus about Kim's HIV status.
He said they are also attempting to verify other information about Kim — such as her age — as she carried multiple IDs, all with conflicting information.
Fish has ordered Kim to undergo another HIV test because of her arrest on a sex charge.
Barberton Health Commissioner Paulette Kline said the department was alerted by police about the health concern.
Kline said anyone who visited the massage parlor should call the health district office at 330-745-6067 for education and testing referrals.
Norton Prosecutor Holly Reese said prostitution is normally a misdemeanor, but she authorized the felony charge when told about Kim's positive HIV test.
If it can be proved that any spa client contracted the virus, Reese said, more serious charges could be filed against Kim.
''[Prostitution] is not such an innocent thrill for these guys who could get the disease,'' Reese said.
<!--endclickprintinclude-->NORTON: Authorities say a woman arrested this week for prostitution at a Norton massage parlor is HIV positive.
And health officials are urging anyone who may have engaged in sex with the woman who worked at Lily Spa at 3051 Barber Road be tested for the virus that causes AIDS.
Authorities raided the spa on Tuesday. Hyang Rae Kim of Barber Road and Yong Howski, 54, of Green, were arrested, Norton police said.
Kim faces a charge of prostitution with HIV. Howski is charged with promoting prostitution.
Both charges are felonies punishable by one to five years in prison.
The women appeared in Barberton Municipal Court on Friday before Judge David Fish. Howski is free on bond, while Kim remains in the Summit County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bond.
Kim's attorney, Lawrence Whitney, declined to comment. He said he is still reviewing the evidence police say they have against his client.
Attorney James Burdon represents Howski.
The arrests came after an Akron vice detective posed as a
customer and visited the Lily Spa, said Norton Police Chief Thad Hete.
''We asked Akron vice to work with us because our detectives are so recognizable in this city,'' he said.
Authorities say the detective paid $80 for a massage. The women were arrested after Howski took the detective's money and Kim attempted to have sex with the officer during the massage, Hete said.
Norton police say the two have been arrested for prostitution in five states. Authorities say the criminal background check revealed that Kim tested positive for HIV more than two years ago. She also disclosed the medical condition to Norton investigators, court records show.
Norton detectives John Dalessandro said the department is awaiting records from Columbus about Kim's HIV status.
He said they are also attempting to verify other information about Kim — such as her age — as she carried multiple IDs, all with conflicting information.
Fish has ordered Kim to undergo another HIV test because of her arrest on a sex charge.
Barberton Health Commissioner Paulette Kline said the department was alerted by police about the health concern.
Kline said anyone who visited the massage parlor should call the health district office at 330-745-6067 for education and testing referrals.
Norton Prosecutor Holly Reese said prostitution is normally a misdemeanor, but she authorized the felony charge when told about Kim's positive HIV test.
If it can be proved that any spa client contracted the virus, Reese said, more serious charges could be filed against Kim.
''[Prostitution] is not such an innocent thrill for these guys who could get the disease,'' Reese said.
