The red neon "open" sign is dark, and another reading "Osaka Massage and Spa" has disappeared from the converted home on Addison Avenue where two women were arrested for allegedly engaging in prostitution.

Myeong Sook Mickley, 46, is charged with one count of prostitution and Sun Do Chong, 57, is charged with two. Both women are represented by Twin Falls attorney Hyong Pak and have pled not guilty, Pak confirmed. He declined further comment, saying he had not yet seen all documents related to the case.

The women allegedly offered to perform sexual acts with undercover Twin Falls County sheriff's deputies for money in an investigation that began last year.

Investigators wanted to charge Mickley with a felony - interstate trafficking in prostitution. But County Prosecutor Grant Loebs on Thursday said the evidence doesn't sustain a felony charge.

To make that charge stick, he would have to prove that Mickley had brought another person across a state line for prostitution.

Mickley posted bond and is now in Hanover, Pa. Reached by telephone Thursday, she said only "I'm married. Talk to my attorney" before hanging up.

She allegedly told authorities that she was sent to Twin Falls 20 days before her arrest by a Korean woman in New York. She said the woman is named InZong, but said she did not know how to find her, according to court records.

Deputies say Chong told them a similar story, though she did not say who sent her to Twin Falls some three months before her Nov. 12 arrest.

Chong is no longer in custody, but it's unclear where she is now. She came to Idaho from Baltimore, and Mickley from Hanover, Pa., court records show.

According to court records, the women said once a month another Asian woman, whom they did not know, came to the massage parlor to pick up "house money" and $2,000 in rent.

Authorities say Osaka charged $60 to $200, depending on the sex act.

Court records show that deputies began their investigation in 2007, but it is unclear what investigation was performed or why there were no arrests until last month.

Authorities aren't planning to charge anyone else in the case,and have not contacted federalauthorities about the interstate movements of the women, said Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Lori Nebeker.

That means no clients of the alleged house of prostitution will be sought, officials said.

"The burden of proof for that is difficult," said Nebeker, because it would require "almost having to catch them in the act ... We don't have that burden of proof."

Deputies did observe nine men who entered Osaka's on Oct. 23 and then leave 25 to 30 minutes later, court records show. Court records don't indicate if deputies identified the men or established what, if any criminal activity may have been involved.

Potential physical evidence of sex for sale, such as condoms, wasn't found when deputies later raided the business.

"You make the case against the people you have evidence against," said Loebs, adding the investigation and charges were not determined by the gender of the accused. "It doesn't matter to me whether they're men or women."

Prostitution wasn't charged at all last year in Twin Falls County, and this is the only case this year. Loebs said it is the first case he has seen in nearly a decade as prosecutor.

An owner of the Osaka property, Brian Anderton of Boise, answered the door there on Thursday. He said he knew nothing about prostitution there and plans to sell the home.

Court records show that a co-owner of the property, Insuk Anderton-Groff, has been convicted of prostitution in Boise, along with violating a city ordinance regarding massage parlor sanitation.

Court records also show that Scott Oler of Twin Falls paid Mickley's bond. Oler in court records listed a telephone number that is registered to Twin Falls Taxi.

A man who answered a call to that number Thursday declined to give his name but said "somebody" had called and asked "us" to post the bond. He said that in the past "we" picked up women from Osaka's and drove them to get groceries.

The man would not say who asked for help after the arrests.

Loebs said he would be willing to pursue a broader case involving interstate trafficking by the people who established the business.

"If they (deputies) bring us more evidence, we can charge that," Loebs said. "I don't recommend what they do. If they bring something to me I might consider it."

Andrea Jackson may be reached at 208-735-3380 or ajackson@magicvalley.com.