Appellate Court Affirms Village's Action To Stop Prostitution at Massage Parlors

The Illinois Appellate Court ruled in favor of the Village of Downers Grove after two local spas challenged the village’s decision to revoke their business licenses after prostitution activity at both locations.

In March 2011, Downers Grove Police, working in tandem with DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group, conducted an undercover sting after local police received a letter tipping off to possible illegal activity at King’s Health Spa, 930 Ogden Avenue, and Ace Spa, located at 1911 Ogden Ave.

READ THE APPELLATE COURT'S DECISION.

Ultimately, undercover officers went to both establishments for therapeutic massages, when employees offered to perform a sexual act. The employees were charged with prostitution, Patch reported in 2011.

King’s Health Spa and Ace Spa had their village business licenses revoked the same year after administrative hearings with the village, on charges that they were in direct violation of their business licenses and village ordinances. Both businesses challenged the revocation.

In the Ace case, the DuPage County Circuit Court Judge held that the sanction of revocation was too harsh and reversed the revocation. The judge in the King’s case upheld the revocation decision, the village said in news release.

The appellate court handed down a written opinion on Wednesday, unanimously upholding the village’s revocation decision in both instances following a three-year court battle.

The court agreed with the village’s arguments that strict regulations are needed given the private nature of massage services. The revocations for prostitution-related violations were also appropriate in both cases.

“The village council and I are extremely gratified that the Appellate Court has recognized the massage parlor problem and the need for strong enforcement of our ordinances,” Mayor Martin Tully said in a written statement. “Storefront prostitution operations which masquerade as normal massage parlors are illegal. They degrade the neighborhood and exploit their own employees. These businesses are inconsistent with the values of our Village. They also diminish the reputation of legitimate professional therapeutic massage facilities.”

Tully said the appellate court’s decision put other illegal operators on notice throughout that village that businesses like Ace and King would not be tolerated in the future.

“We hope the Appellate Court’s decisive ruling will assist other municipalities in their enforcement efforts against similar illicit operations in their communities,” the mayor said.