Alleged ruses of fiancee revealed

A private investigator said that within 15 minutes of following a Newport Beach woman and a teenage girl to the mall, he knew police would have to get involved.

Tom Martin, of Martin Investigative Services, said he assigned one of his best men to stake out the house of a 14-year-old girl, who a relative worried was being groomed for sex.

Almost as soon as he got there, Michelle Hecker, 31, picked her up and told her mother they were going shopping, Martin said.

They arrived at Fashion Island soon enough, and Hecker parked, then walked away from the car and left the girl, he said.

Martin described Hecker walking to a different parked car and getting in, only to see her fiance, Jason Ellis, emerge.

Ellis made his way to the waiting teenager in the car, and passionately kissed her hello, Martin said.

For the rest of the day, a private investigator photographed and videotaped Ellis kissing and grabbing the young girl in public, Martin said.

Similar routines around the city and at Ellis’ home would continue for weeks, until the girl’s family came to police, according to the private investigator.

Attorneys representing Hecker and Ellis declined to comment Thursday.

Now Hecker and Ellis face several felony charges. He is accused of having a relationship with the girl for up to 10 months and faces up to seven years in jail.

Hecker, who was released on $50,000 bail Thursday and is scheduled to be arraigned with her fiance on July 18, is accused of facilitating the relationship.

Ellis has shot magazine ads for Calvin Klein and covers for Health and Fitness magazine and Maxim, among others.

Martin said he almost didn’t take the case.

It was too out there that an almost yearlong relationship between a nationally renowned fitness photographer and a 14-year-old girl could go undetected, he said. But with some convincing and money from the relative, he took it on without the girl or her mother knowing.

What unfolded before private investigators’ eyes was an elaborate routine of costume changes and rendezvous by the girl, who authorities say was a willing participant, and Ellis and his live-in fiance, according to officials.

Hecker and the girl met while horseback riding, prosecutors said. When she mentioned her hopes of being a model, Hecker allegedly said her fiance could help her make that dream a reality.

Private investigators said they don’t think it’s a coincidence that the girl looks like a pre-pubescent Hecker, with long blond hair and a slight build. One private investigator described the girl, now 15, as looking like a 12-year-old.

From August 2007 to June 2008, Hecker routinely picked the girl up from her mom’s house only to have her rendezvous with Ellis at his home, at movie theaters or gas stations, Martin said. Many times, Martin said investigators watched Hecker drive straight to Ellis’, drop her off, then leave for hours on end.

After Ellis’ and the girl’s time alone, Hecker would pick her up and take her home, Martin said. Relatives said the girl, her mom, Hecker and Ellis even went on a trip to France together, Martin said.

Martin speculated the girl may have found happiness or comfort in the relationship because she does not have a father, he said.

Police were notified twice that Ellis may have had an inappropriate relationship with girls before authorities began looking for him June 25, officials said.

In June 2007, someone called police anonymously and said they should look into Ellis. He is not a registered sex offender, and he has a legitimate and very successful business in the city with a nearly spotless past, police said.

The caller did not provide any insight to the girl, Hecker or a sexual relationship, Sgt. Evan Sailor said.

Shortly after the rendezvous at Fashion Island, Martin met with Newport Beach detectives to report what his investigators had found.

“Obviously, if you have a minor involved, we want to know all the facts. If someone is grabbing the minor’s butt, we’re going to be concerned,” Sailor said. “But he never presented tapes,” and no victims had stepped forward nor could they immediately verify the girl’s age, he said.

A week later, Martin confronted the girl and her mother with what they had found, he said. With the evidence “gift wrapped” for detectives, Martin, the girl and her mom walked into the Newport Beach Police Department, he said.

“Boom. We hit the ground running,” Sailor said. Authorities notified Ellis that police had issued a warrant for his arrest, so he and Hecker tried to disappear, Martin said.

Sailor said it’s not uncommon for detectives to notify suspects they are being investigated if they’re not judged a flight risk.

Ellis was arrested Sunday night during a traffic stop in Newport Beach. Hecker turned herself in to police Thursday morning.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.