Former Deputy Charged With Running House of Prostitution

A former sergeant in the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is expected to appear in court Monday after being indicted this week on charges of running a house of prostitution out of a La Mesa massage parlor operated by his wife.

Dennis Arthur Hartman resigned earlier this year after a 23-year career with the force after he was linked to prostitution at his wife’s business, Yung Acupressure on University Avenue.

After two days of testimony, a special county grand jury Wednesday indicted Hartman on three felony charges of pimping and pandering. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of keeping a house of ill fame, from the beginning of 1991 until last Jan. 24.

The three felony counts each carry maximum penalties of six years in state prison, but sentencing guidelines mean that if convicted on all counts, Hartman will probably face a maximum sentence of about 7 1/2 years.

Citing confidentiality laws covering grand jury proceedings, the district attorney’s office has released little information about its eight-month investigation.

Twenty-one witnesses were called to testify, including Yuk Rye Godfrey, the only other person charged so far in the alleged prostitution scheme. Godfrey was arrested in January and later pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of prostitution.

Hartman’s wife, Unyong (Sandy) Hall, was not called before the grand jury and has not been charged in the case.