A Tucson couple accused of operating a string of illicit massage parlors failed to appear at a court hearing Monday afternoon.
Clarissa Lopez and Ulises Ruiz are facing multiple felonies in connection with the “By Spanish” prostitution ring that had locations scattered across Tucson for more than four years, according to Tucson Police Department and Pima County Superior Court records.
In February 2016, Ruiz and Lopez were each indicted on six felony charges, including illegal control of an enterprise, keeping a house of prostitution, receiving the earnings of a prostitute and money laundering — all felonies.
Lopez is also facing an additional two felony counts of pandering, for recruiting women to lead a life of prostitution, court records show.
In July, after five months of motions, hearings and status conferences, a trial date was set for April 4, but it was vacated in late March when the case settlement conference was scheduled.
Attorney Cornelia Honchar, who is representing Lopez in the case, bristled at the sight of media in the courtroom Monday afternoon, saying settlement conferences aren’t public and she’d be asking Pima County Superior Court Judge Howard Fell to move the conference into chambers.
Fell had previously granted the Star’s request to allow media access to the courtroom, indicating the hearing was not private.
It’s unclear if Fell would have approved Honchar’s request, as Lopez and Ruiz had not arrived several minutes after the scheduled time of 1 p.m.
“I don’t do settlement conferences without defendants, so I guess we’re done,” Fell told Honchar and Assistant Public Defender Sean Bruner, who is representing Ruiz in the case.
Honchar and Bruner both attempted to make contact with their clients, saying they were aware of the conference, where terms of a potential plea deal are discussed in an effort to settle the case.
Bruner said he spoke to Ruiz before leaving the courtroom. According to Bruner, Ruiz said he didn’t know he had to attend the conference and was at work.
Fell didn’t issue bench warrants for the defendants’ failure to appear, as a status conference was already scheduled for Tuesday morning, April 4.
The charges stem from a January 2015 Tucson police raid during which evidence was seized from 10 homes and properties identified in the investigation.
During the investigation, police learned a former employee of “By Spanish,” Stephanie Garcia, had left the business and started a new operation, “Daisy’s Delights.”
While investigating the two businesses, police identified government employees, area firefighters, Border Patrol agents and Air Force personnel as customers.
Eight Tucson police employees who were found to be involved in the business lost their jobs as a result, but no charges were filed against them.
In a related court case, Garcia is facing eight felonies, including illegal control of an enterprise, money laundering, maintaining a house of prostitution and receiving the earnings of a prostitute.
Garcia’s attorney, Lisa Surhio, was on hand for the hearing, as her client’s jury trial before Judge Paul Tang is scheduled to start April 11.
Deputy Pima County Attorney Bruce Chalk is handling both cases.
