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Human trafficking & prostitution crackdown hits state roadblock
Story By: James Jarman
Source: KOAA
Published Wed Jan 16, 2008, 04:09 PM MST
Updated Mon Feb 04, 2008, 02:31 PM MST
Authorities say prostitution and human trafficking continues to happen behind closed doors in El Paso County, despite efforts from the commissioners to stop it.
The problem now appears to be a state law, which doesn't allow El Paso County to do what Sheriff Terry Maketa says is needed -- licensing and regulation of massage therapists.
We've shown you prostitution is happening inside some El Paso County massage parlors. The commissioners looked into it and recently found a 1990 revised state law that doesn't allow the county to license massage therapists, but the state doesn't license them either.
"We're kind of stuck in the middle because we don't have the authority to just take care of it, we will have to go through the state of Colorado in order to find a remedy," said Commissioner Sallie Clark, who's been fighting to try to crackdown on the massage parlors where illegal activity's happening. "I think we have to find a solution no matter who provides the licensing," she said. Clark also says El Paso County can't simply outlaw the massage parlors, unless someone creates a ballot issue and the voters approve it.
"It's extremely frustrating," said Dana Allen, a licensed massage therapist and board member of the non-profit group Touching the World, which tries to help fight human trafficking and raise awareness about it.
Allen Says therapists in Colorado Springs, who are licensed through the City, plan to take their case to state lawmakers "to make sure that they know we are here and we are not happy with this situation and that we are frustrated with it," she said.
