One of the main contentions of the defense in the Jody Babydol Gubson prostitution trial is that the LAPD was using improper procedure in its investigation of the alleged Hollywood madam. However, an LAPD supervisor terstified last Friday that the department has allowed officers on undercover vice assignments to disrobe as a matter of policy.
Det. Keith R. Haight, who is in charge of the prostitution section of the Los Angeles Police Department's Organized Crime and Vice Division, said the policy of disrobing to investigate massage parlors has always been in force 24 years. "If you don't disrobe, you don't get a massage," Haight said.
Such practices are also not uncommon, said Haight, a 26-year department veteran who has trained vice officers from across the state.
"I'm aware of 15, 20 other [police departments] in the state of California that do that. . . . They all disrobe for these investigations." Based on interviews he had with several of Gibson's alleged prostitutes, Haight said, "No misconduct took place."
Haight's testimony apparently contradicts Gibson's defense which alleges misconduct by undercover officers who, the defense says, stripped naked while with alleged prostitutes. Gibson, 41, has been charged with pimping, pandering and procuring for prostitution in connection with her alleged operation of an international call-girl business. She faces up to 17 years in state prison if convicted on all charges.
Defense attorney Gerald Scotti has contended all along that authorities would not prove Gibson was involved in anything other than setting up dance parties and casting or shooting pornographic videos. Early in the case, the defense also alleged evidence-tampering and failure to prosecute male clients.
According to Haight, the LAPD does arrest men in other cases. Questioned by Deputy Dist. Atty. Richard Walmark, Haight said that in 1999 the LAPD made about 4,500 prostitution-related arrests, 2,000 of which were men. Of the men, about 1,500 arrests were of male clients and the remainder were gay male prostitutes.
Haight read a list of 18 "agency rules" that Gibson allegedly provided during first-time meetings with prospective "models" for her service. The rules admonish the women "don't be late," and that "failure to show up for confirmed dates is cause for immediate termination," Haight said, reading from the list to the jurors.
Women were told to "dress conservatively," were cautioned that loud print or neon clothing is prohibited, that high heels with pantyhose are required and that shoes and handbag must match.
"Lingerie is nice but optional," one rule stated. Women were also asked to be discreet. "Don't ask clients for tips. Tipping is optional," the rules advised. "Asking is tacky and not acceptable." It also asks women to "bring condoms yourself. Don't leave it to the client." Earlier in the week, three former prostitutes, including an adult film actress identified as "Kimberly King" testified against Gibson, to the surprise of her defense. The women agreed to testify at the last minute after signing immunity deals that would protect them from prosecution.
King testified she "felt pressure" to go on calls for Gibson, for whom she worked for two months in 1999. But she also conceded, under cross-examination, that she chose to seek out Gibson and was never forced to work as a prostitute. "I went because I wanted to make money," King said. Also last week Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Lloyd M. Nash ruled that prosecutors can use a "manuscript" allegedly written by Gibson. The manuscript of seven typed pages allegedly describes her life as a Hollywood madam.
