Investigative reporter Brian Maass gives new meaning to the term “undercover” in his two-parter on massage parlors, coming up Thursday and Friday.
Parlors and human trafficking were in the news recently after Denver cops shut down 16 parlors and made 35 arrests, but Maass and a KCNC-Channel 4 crew began working on the story, airing on the 10 o’clock news both nights, in July.
Those who think such parlors, many of which are thinly veiled fronts for prostitution, exist only on East Colfax Avenue and in industrial neighborhoods are in for a big surprise. They could be right outside your back door.
“It’s very much an issue in the suburbs, in pretty upscale, nice neighborhoods,” says Maass, who puts, if not his life, his body on the line with visits to parlors in three unlikely locations – Castle Rock, Arapahoe County and Longmont.
Maass peels down to his boxers to give his visits, filmed by a hidden camera, authenticity, and almost immediately the conversation turns to other services. “Sex good,” says one “masseuse.” Another almost immediately offers oral sex, in no uncertain terms. Prices are discussed.
“I’m not the story,” Maass said during a preview screening at Channel 4. “I don’t like first-person stuff, but it felt like the most effective way to do this.”
One stop took Maass to the Crystal Spa on Main Street in Castle Rock, across the street from the Douglas County School Administration Building and next to a Re-Max office. Business was brisk, so busy, he says, men were waiting outside in their parked cars. “We were shocked.” At another parlor, he says, he was told they were all booked up. “Come back tomorrow.”
The two-part story is another bellringer from a veteran investigative reporter who has already had his share of big stories. Maass and his producers expect there will be cries of outrage from politicians and residents. “We’re ready to do a follow-up.”
Around the dial
The baseball was great, the ratings stunk: Television viewership for the just-completed World Series pitting Chicago and Houston was the worst in history, topping the previous low set by the Angels-Giants series in 2002. Viewership was off 32 percent from last year’s Boston-St. Louis. Fox, however, spinning the numbers to note that the 11.1 rating was the network’s highest in prime time since the May 25 finale of “American Idol.” … “I Walk the Line: A Night for Johnny Cash” airs Nov. 16 on Channel 4. The tribute to the late, great country star was taped last week in Los Angeles, featuring Sheryl Crow, Jerry Lee Lewis, U2, Dwight Yoakam and a dozen others. … Broncos coach Mike Shanahan talks about Sunday’s game against Philadelphia in live coverage, hosted by Tim Ring, of the coach’s press conference (1:30 p.m today, FSN Rocky Mountain). … Quotable: “It’s not where you’d expect to find brothels.” – Brian Maass.
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
