Posted on 06/18/2002 11:37:03 AM PDT by socal_parrot
NORCO - A prostitution ring offering golfers illegal sex at Hidden Valley Golf Club in Norco was raided Friday, Riverside County sheriff's deputies said.
Approximately 100 people -- including about 15 women -- were detained Friday evening as television news helicopters buzzed above the 18-hole public course.
Deputies from the Jurupa Valley Sheriff's Station conducted the sting of a group believed to be involved in "illegal sexual acts," Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Shelley Kennedy-Smith said.
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About 15 to 20 people were expected to be booked early this morning for prostitution, pimping or pandering, Kennedy-Smith said. That number included approximately seven women; the remainder are golfers and or employees, she said. All the golfers were men.
Friday's raid included surveillance video footage and concluded a three-week investigation, Kennedy-Smith said.
Although the golf course is open to the public, the illegal activity took place at private tournaments, she said.
"This is all a shock to me," the golf course's owner, Henry C. "Chuck" Cox II, said from his home. "I'm trying to figure it out and nobody is answering the phone up there."
Cox said the golf course can be rented by private groups. At about 8 p.m., he said he knew only that some of his staffers were being questioned. Deputies blocked reporters and the curious from access to the golf course.
Kennedy-Smith said that after today's surveillence, sheriffs deputies fanned over the golf course and directed everybody to sit in the parking lot area. Deputies then divided people into groups of suspected prostitutes, employees, and the golfers.
Each person was interviewed by four-deputy teams. Prostitution is a misdemeanor offense but pimping and pandering are felonies. At about 7 p.m., officers began releasing some of the people they had question. A stream of cars, in which many passengers tried to shield their faces from TV cameras, drove down Norco Hills Road.
As evening news crews broadcast footage, curious nearby residents continued driving up Norco Hills Road, which becomes Hidden Valley Drive, only to be turned away by sheriff's deputies blocking the route to the golf course.
"It just blows me away," said Teresa Thornbury, laughing. "This might happen in Las Vegas. Not in Norco!"
Some didn't have any idea what was happening.
"We thought there was a dead body," said Jeremy Kemp, 32. "We thought there was a fight."
Authorities said they began investigating after golf course neighbors viewed scantily clad women on the greens approximately three weeks ago. Small tents were visible around the course.
Kim and Scott Fuller, who said they live nearby, said they were shocked that the alleged illegal sex activity was taking place near a family-oriented neighborhood.
Kim Fuller said she had seen a provocatively attired woman drive down from the golf course last Sunday but thought only that the woman had bad fashion sense.
Norco Councilman Harvey Sullivan said that three weeks ago he was going to meet a buddy at Hidden Valley for lunch. His friend called Sullivan and told him to meet elsewhere because the street to the golf course was blocked and he was turned away, the councilman said.
Staff researcher Jackie Chamberlain contributed to this story.
Reach John Welsh at (909) 737-1366 or jwelsh@pe.com
Puts a whole meaning on the question "mind if I play through?"
I almost never hook, as I tend to slice my shots off to the right. (In fact, my golf game is usually further right than my politics.) But on those rare occasions that I hook the ball, it's a DOOZY!
And I thought my idea of bringing an 18-pack of beer to the course (one for every hole) was a bad idea.
That's what I call golfing!
You people are slipping.
I can't believe no one posted this picture yet!
CD
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