2 p.m    AP) — A federal prosecutor says a massage parlor owner accused of coercing women into prostitution recruited those who spoke only Mandarin Chinese so they would be isolated in Wichita.

Details of the case against 44-year-old Gary H. Kidgell, of Waltham (WAHL’-tham), Mass., surfaced Wednesday during a detention hearing. U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren refused to free him pending trial, finding he was a flight risk and a danger to the community.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart also told the court that Kidgell left Wichita amid the investigation and moved to Boston where he opened another parlor.

Defense attorney David Freund disputed the characterization that the women were isolated, noting they could call anywhere on a cellphone.

Kidgell and two co-defendants are accused of sharing resources to operate nine massage parlors in Wichita.

 

5:31 a.m.  (AP) — The owner of Asian massage parlors in Wichita has asked a federal judge to release him from prison while awaiting trial on charges of recruiting women and coercing them into prostitution.

A magistrate judge earlier this month ordered the continued detention of 44-year-old Gary H. Kidgell, of Waltham (WAHL’-tham), Mass., ruling he was a flight risk and a danger to the community.

U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren scheduled a hearing Wednesday in Wichita to review that order.

A six-count indictment charges Kidgell; 49-year-old Yan Zhang, of Wichita; and 42-year-old employee Xiuqing Tian, of Framingham, Mass., with taking part in a conspiracy from 2009 to 2011.

Court documents accuse them of sharing resources to operate nine massage parlors in Wichita.