Monticello hearing concerns over massage business - KARE

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MONTICELLO, Minn. - Concern over possible prostitution and human trafficking is leading to change in one local community.

It involves a massage business in the city of Monticello.

This week, the city of Monticello started licensing massage centers. The move comes after the Sheriff's Office heard concerns of prostitution and opened an investigation.

“There are a lot of people in this city who are concerned,” said Amanda Stachowicz.

Stachowicz started a Facebook group called “Humanitarians of Wright County” to raise awareness of sex trafficking she believes could be happening right in Monticello.

“I don't think people know this is happening,” she said.

Suspicions about a massage business grew to concerns when she learned it was advertising on the website backpage.com, which is heavily monitored by law enforcement investigating sex trafficking.

“All advertising, “hot, sexy, young Asian girls” who are willing to please you and make you have a memorable experience,” Stachowicz said.

The Washington County Attorney’s Office counts the number of apparent solicitations for sexual services in the Twin Cities Metro on Backpage. From January through May, there have been 28,290.

Those who help sex trafficking victims say you shouldn't assume the women are involved voluntarily.

“That is the biggest misconception about human trafficking,” said Sarah Colford of Central MN Sexual Assault Center.

Back in Monticello, the concerns have led to a criminal investigation.

“We've reached out to other agencies that have dealt with issues like this,” a Wright County Sheriff’s official said.

And the concerns led to the city taking action, now requiring massage businesses to be licensed through the city.

“There are strict guidelines that they have to follow. And if there are activities that happen outside of that, that is out of our control. That's where it goes over to the sheriff's department,” one council member explained at the meeting this week.

“Because so many people said we're concerned about this, they listened. And they did whatever they could city-wise, legally, to try and reign it in,” Stachowicz said.

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