Montgomery County police said Wednesday that they charged a Bethesda man who co-owns the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., with soliciting prostitution at a massage business.
Police said Seth Hurwitz, 60, of Lenox Road, was arrested on Wednesday as he arrived at the business after previously arranging to pay a licensed massage and physical therapist for “sexual favors.”
Police declined to release the name of the massage business to avoid identifying the victim.
Someone who answered the phone at the 9:30 Club on Wednesday afternoon said Hurwitz was not at the business and said he might be reachable by email. An email seeking comment was not immediately returned.
A website for I.M.P. Concerts, a concert promotion and production company, lists him as the chairman and as a co-owner of the 9:30 Club, a popular D.C. music venue. I.M.P. operates Merriweather Post Pavilion and produces and promotes shows at several other venues in the Baltimore and D.C. region.
In a news release, police said they began investigating after a licensed massage and physical therapist contacted them on Friday to report Hurwitz’s solicitation.
The previous day, Hurwitz called the massage business to make an appointment for later that day. “During the session, Hurwitz made sexual comments and inappropriate sexual motions,” the press release said. “He implied to the victim that her tip would be greater if she performed sexual acts.”
The massage and physical therapist told police that Hurwitz “left a roll of cash laying on the floor in plain sight in the massage room. Twice during the interaction, Hurwitz asked the victim if she would consider coming to his home and providing a massage. The victim declined. The victim ended the massage early due to Hurwitz’ increasing inappropriate sexual behavior.”
Police said Hurwitz texted the victim’s business phone later that day. The next day, with police department Vice and Intelligence Unit detectives present with the victim, Hurwitz sent her another text message and talked to her on the phone, agreeing to pay her cash for sexual favors, the press release said.
In a follow-up message, he agreed to come back to the business on Wednesday, police said.
Hurwitz was charged with solicitation for prostitution. He was released on $5,000 bond.
In an interview, Officer Rick Goodale said the arrest was prompted by the victim’s complaint and was not related to recent investigations of massage businesses suspected of allowing prostitution.
Police said in the press release that statements Hurwitz made during conversations with the victim lead them to believe there may be other victims.
Asked to expand on that, Goodale said Hurwitz appeared comfortable in making the proposals of sexual acts for money. The theory of other victims is not based on any specific references Hurwitz made to other women, Goodale said.
Police have asked anyone with additional information to call them at 240-773-5958.
