Woman Pleads Not Guilty in Call Girl Ring

The woman accused of running an international call girl ring catering to celebrities, business titans and a professional athlete pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of pimping, pandering and conspiracy.

Jody Diane Babydol Gibson made a brief appearance before Van Nuys Municipal Judge Leland Harris to deny the nine felony counts brought against her.

Harris ordered Gibson back to court on July 14 to set a date for a preliminary hearing. She remained free after posting a $25,000 bond.

Flanked by an entourage that included her lawyer Gerald V. Scotti, two bodyguards and a public relations consultant, Gibson had no comment outside court.

Her attorney briefly told a throng of reporters that he had recently received documents turned over by prosecutors adding that Babydol was not his client’s alias but rather part of her legal name.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Richard F. Walmark had no comment on the case.

But authorities have said Gibson, using the alias Sasha, operated one of Los Angeles’ largest illegal escort services over the last nine years. An aspiring singer, Gibson kept information on more than 100 clients, authorities said. Those names have not been released.

Gibson, who called her service “California Dreamin’,” employed as many as 34 prostitutes and charged clients $500 to $3,000 a night, police said.

The service, which was marketed on an Internet Web site, was believed to be operating in 16 states across the nation and in Europe, according to authorities, although most activity was in Los Angeles and New York.

Gibson was the target of a 10-month LAPD investigation in which an undercover female officer infiltrated the ring posing as a prostitute. The probe was sparked by a disgruntled escort who called police and described the operation. Detectives also are looking at Gibson’s contacts with the recording industry and reputed New York crime figures.