Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Former Henderson city employee pleads not guilty to pandering

Michael Bass Massage Raids

L.E. Baskow

Michael Bass, a former Henderson city employee has been indicted in connection with tipping off massage parlors to possible raids in exchange for sexual favors, appears in Justice Court on Wednesday, July 27, 2016. L.E. Baskow

Michael Bass: Massage Raids

Zimei Patton, who prosecutors said ran a massage parlor that essentially operated as a brothel is taken into custody facing one count each of pandering, living from the earnings of a prostitute and bribery in Justice Court on Wednesday, July 27, 2016. She is connected to Michael Bass, a former Henderson city employee has been indicted in connection with tipping off massage parlors to possible raids in exchange for sexual favors.  L.E. Baskow Launch slideshow »

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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