Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The owner of Dating Dynamics intends to keep the business open despite what she claims are efforts by law enforcement to close it down.
Jenette Fairchild defended her business Monday, saying it is not a front for prostitution and that activities at the massage and dating service in Warsaw are legitimate.
"The allegations are not true and if they were going on, I would not allow it," Fairchild said while sitting in the lobby of Dating Dynamics, located at 208 W. Fort Wayne St., just west of Lake Street.
Fairchild's comments come on the heels of an employee's arrest on a charge of prostitution Thursday and a search of the business on Friday. Police made a search to determine whether Fairchild knew of or organized the alleged sex-for-money activities.
Fairchild said she requires employees to sign a waiver that protects the business and can be used to fire anyone who violates the policy.
Fairchild and the employee, Angela Frye, claim the arrest is an effort to close the business. They both claimed officers said the warrant was sought after Frye refused to cooperate in an investigation against the business.
She contends the arrest is political in the wake of upcoming elections.
"This is just another thing for his political gain," Fairchild said, referring to county prosecutor David Kolbe, who faces a re-election campaign this spring.
Frye claims nothing illegal occurred during the massage and that no money was exchanged. She said the undercover officer - who had recording equipment in his clothing - asked, toward the end of the topless massage session, about the special massage. Frye said she told the officer the special massage only involved the topless service.
At that point, the officer said he was "not comfortable with that" - a code phrase for police monitoring the situation - and police entered the business.
Police contend she began rubbing the officer's crotch before police entered.
Frye said after her arrest police told her she was "small potatoes" and that Fairchild and the business are the true targets of the investigation.
She said an officer told her that police believe the community wants the business shut down.
Fairchild said her business was swamped with prank telephone calls since an article appeared in Saturday's Times-Union.
She said she plans to remain in business and that, ultimately, the publicity might help sales.
"I felt like we were set up, but I'm not at liberty to go into that now," she said.
Dating Dynamics started as a computerized dating service, but most of the business involves massages.
Fairchild said she knew ads promoting more expensive topless massages would make people curious, but nothing sexual occurs during the 30- to 40-minute sessions.
Complaints from other local massage services, she said, are an indication that those businesses are afraid of competition.
