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Owner Of Salem, N.H. Spa Charged With Prostitution

SALEM, N.H. (CBS) -- Business owners on Main Street in Salem, N.H. all thought it was a well-run business. ETEA Weight Loss and Day Spa seemed to have a steady stream of clients. But police say the owner was also involved in prostitution.

"The owner trained her employees in massage, and then at the end, how to perform certain sex acts," said Salem Dep. Police Chief Shawn Patten.

WBZ-TV's Bill Shields reports.

Patten says it all started several weeks ago, when an employee came to police saying the owner of ETEA, Lori Barron, was training employees how to perform sex acts, after giving a massage. So police set up a sting operation.

For nearly two weeks, undercover officers pulled over males leaving the ETEA Weight Loss office, and told them they would either be charged as "johns" involved in prostitution, or could be cooperating witnesses. Most chose the latter.

Baron was busted for prostitution and released on bail.

But her business neighbors on Main Street couldn't believe it. At Coco, Early Real Estate, employees were in disbelief.

"That's absolutely shocking," said Sue Murray. Her co-worker, Barbara Scanlon smiled and said, "And I was thinking about going over there for a massage. I guess I won't!"

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