By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FAIRFIELD - For the second time this month, City Council on Thursday delayed passing a ban against unlicensed, paid massages on someone of the opposite sex after a hypnotherapist complained the proposed law would hurt her business.

But permitting an exception could render the new rule useless because others could open illicit parlors by saying they, too, were hypnotherapists, Fairfield's law director, John Clemmons, warned council.

"This could be the loophole that swallows the ordinance," he said.

Fairfield is trying to eliminate unlicensed massage parlors after police shut down two on Ohio 4 last year that were prostitution fronts.

Hypnotherapist Allicia Nelson, however, objects, saying she is a legitimate business operator.

"I do not feel I should be penalized for the sins of others," she said.

Though she is not licensed to give massages out of her life-coaching, hypnotherapy and massage business called A Center for Change, she contends she is permitted to give them for relaxation purposes under Ohio law.

She performs them, she said, only as she treats clients who want to stop smoking, lose weight and control stress.

Councilman Mark Scharringhausen encouraged her Thursday to get state certification. But Nelson said she doesn't plan to because it is too expensive and takes too long, about two years of full-time schooling and training.

A hypnosis massage is a hands-on, full body relaxation massage, she explained. Clients may leave their clothes on or take off as much as they like, she said, but they are always face down under a sheet or blanket.

Nelson wouldn't rule out legally challenging the ban if it passes.

"People who are bound to be prostitutes are going to do it. I don't think passing this law is going to be as successful in stopping prostitution as they think it will," she said.

After a round of questioning Thursday, Clemmons prompted Nelson to concede she trained in 2000 and 2001 under a Forest Park man, Donald Hauck, who has been convicted on three counts of gross sexual imposition.

Hauck was accused of hypnotizing women, then molesting them or forcing them to touch him sexually, court records show.

Clemmons also said Hauck's business listing in the Yellow Pages shows two locations - and one of the phone numbers listed is to Nelson's Hicks Boulevard office.

Nelson confirmed Hauck was retiring and is turning over some of his clients to her, but she insisted she is not doing anything improper and had nothing to do with his criminal acts.

"I am so mad right now I can't speak," Nelson, 34, said.

Fairfield Police Chief Michael Dickey told council she was not found to have been involved with Hauck's acts.

It is not illegal to run an unlicensed massage parlor, but most legitimate ones are licensed, city officials say.

The new law is not aimed at legitimate, licensed professional massage therapists. Doctors and hospitals also are exempt.

Leaders in Covington passed a similar ordinance last year, and police have conducted raids on illegally operated massage parlors there and in Newport, Middletown and Cincinnati.

In West Chester Township, officials are working on ways to make it tougher to open and operate a sexually oriented business and are tightening their licensing and zoning codes.

The new rules will come as township officials and police keep watch on a new nightclub that has featured bikini-clad dancers and lingerie shows.

In Liberty Township, officials are creating a district for sexually oriented businesses.

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com