Wednesday, July 27, 2016 | 2:38 p.m.
A former city of Henderson employee accused of tipping off a massage parlor to police operations and city inspections in return for sexual favors pleaded not guilty today to charges of pandering and misconduct of a public officer.
Michael Bass, who worked as a business licensing enforcement officer, was arraigned today in District Court, where a judge set a May 30 trial date.
The spa owner, Zimei Patton, also was in court and pleaded not guilty to charges of pandering, living from the earnings of a prostitute and bribery.
Prosecutor Jonathan Cooper said Patton was operating a brothel out of the massage parlor, 99 Spa, at 4500 E. Sunset Road.
An indictment alleges Bass, 70, and Patton, 49, colluded to induce two employees of 99 Spa to “become a prostitute and/or to continue to engage in prostitution” between July 15, 2013, and Sept. 16, 2014. In exchange for sex, Bass gave Patton information about law enforcement operations and city inspections regarding 99 Spa and two others, Spa 88 and Spa Yi, according to the indictment.
Defense attorney John Graves said Patton made a mistake by offering the two women to Bass, but she wasn’t running a brothel out of the massage parlor. He also noted she has no criminal record.
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