The former owner of a north Columbia massage parlor pleaded not guilty to a prostitution charge Monday in Boone County Circuit Court.
Yang H. Yoon, 58, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree promotion of prostitution in January after Columbia police received a tip from an offended male patron.
The man told police he was offered sexual services for an additional fee at Fuji Sauna, 711-A Vandiver Drive.
The trial is scheduled for Sept. 6. Second-degree promotion of prostitution can result in punishment of up to 10 years in prison.
Jin L. Paio, 44, was also arrested and charged with prostitution.
She pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial on July 24 in Boone County Associate Circuit Court.
The arrests at Fuji Sauna came a month after similar arrests were made at Lynn’s Massage, 3215 Rangeline St.
Karon Lynn Rowe, the owner of Lynn’s Massage, pleaded guilty to a reduced sentence of attempting to promote prostitution. In June, Boone County Associate Circuit Court Judge Larry Bryson sentenced Rowe to two years of unsupervised probation.
Columbia police Capt. Brad Nelson told the Missourian in January that prostitution-related businesses are common in Columbia, but police only investigate them when they receive complaints from residents.