Ex-Beauty Queen Is Arrested

SEATTLE - A former Miss Washington was arrested yesterday as part of a prostitution investigation by Seattle police and the King County Sheriff's Office.

The former beauty queen, now 59, is accused of running a prostitution business out of two Kenmore homes and one in Seattle. Also arrested was a 32-year-old woman.

According to the Sheriff's Office, the women would allegedly advertise massage and escort services and then, when clients would go to one of the houses, they would be met by prostitutes. Sometimes, police allege, prostitutes would be sent to local hotels and motels.

Authorities have seized a house in the 4000 block of Woodland Park Avenue North in Seattle and two houses in the 6600 block of 153rd Place Northeast in Kenmore, all owned by the older woman.

The women, both Seattle residents, could each face felony charges of promoting prostitution and money laundering, authorities

said.