Phoenix ‘Goddess Temple’ leader who told court that ‘touching genitals is a sacred practice’ is found guilty of running a brothel

The leader of the Phoenix Goddess Temple – who told the court that ‘touching genitals is a sacred practice’ – has been found guilty of running a brothel.

Tracy Elise was found guilty on all 22 criminal charges against her at Marcopa County Superior Court after a brief deliberation on Wednesday, AZ Central reports.

They include charges of operating or maintaining a house of prostitution, pandering, money laundering, illegal control of an enterprise and conspiracy to commit illegal enterprise.

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Tracy Elise (pictured left, hugging her son after the verdict, and right), the leader of the Phoenix Goddess Temple, was found guilty of running a brothel

After the verdict was read, Elise – who defended herself in her trial – said: ‘I never thought it would be like this.’

Her sentencing is set for April 8.

Prosecutors told the court that women from the temple offered services to men, including sexual gratification, for money.

Deputy County Attorney Edward Leiter told the jury that Elise’s activities in the temple violated the state’s prostitution statue.

Elise claimed that the services were part of the temple’s spiritual practices and that all money came in the form of donations. However, suggested donations, which were decided by Elise and other temple officials - ranged from around $200 up to $600, according to AZ Central.

But Leiter explained that even if the sexual acts performed in the temple were spiritual, the exchange of money during those sessions made it prostitution.

Despite the verdict, her son Ben Wade continued to insist that sex acts inside the temple are permitted as part of their religious practice. 

Tracy Elise's son Ben Wade (right) insisted sex acts inside the temple are permitted as part of their religion

Elise (pictured hugging her son and daughter) claimed that the services were part of the temple’s spiritual practices and that all money came in the form of donations.

‘We have the freedom of religion,’ he told AZ Central. ‘To us, our religion and our belief, the body is the temple.

‘The body is sacred. That may include the genitals. In fact, I’m pretty sure it does.’

The Goddess Temple first began operating out of a residence in Scottsdale in 2008 until it moved after neighbors complained and police began investigating their activities.

Goddess Temple leader Tracy Elise (pictured) was found guilty of running a brothel

It settled in Phoenix in 2010, where it began , presenting itself as a ‘neo-tantra’ temple where visitors, called seekers, could receive healing services from ‘goddesses’.

Leiter showed the court the temple's menu of services – which listed the goddesses and which services they were willing to provide.

It included a sentence saying a goddess would physically help a seeker achieve sexual gratification, according to a document projected in court by Leiter.

Men could receive sexual favors from the temple's healers, called goddesses, if they knew the right words.

Elise told the court that it depended on the goddess's feelings about the seeker and that the women did not necessarily engage in sexual services.

She told Leiter that touching genitals was a sacred practice in her religion and that if a goddess did not wish to do something, another willing one would continue the session.

‘This form shows that this was absolutely a prostitution enterprise,’ Leiter said. ‘If you don’t get what you want, someone else will do it for you.’

Prosecutors also questioned the temple's raunchy advertisements that posted online by the goddesses. One of those, on Backpage.com, showed goddess Iyata in a golden bra and frilly underwear, with one leg on a bed.

Elise said the ads were 'a stream of natural energy' meant to draw more seekers into the temple.

Some of them were paid for with the money collected from the seekers.

Elise also said the temple accepted donations instead of fees, but criticized men who didn't bring enough money.

'I find it disrespectful when they run out without leaving anything for our goddesses,' she said.

Some of the temple's healers, called goddesses, posted raunchy ads (pictured) on websites such as Backpage.com. Elise says they were a way to bring in more visitors to the temple

The Goddess Temple (pictured) opened in Phoenix in 2010. Police raided it in 2011 after a six-month investigation and indicted more than 30 people at the time

Prosecutors say men could obtain sexual services at the temple (pictured) if they knew the right words. Tracy says such services were part of a spiritual practice in her religion

The temple's practices included other rituals, such as pouring members' menstrual blood on the ground and on trees as a way to thank the Earth, Elise told the court.

She said: 'I’m letting the holy spirit guide me today through this trial.'

Police raided the temple in 2011 after a six-month investigation and indicted more than 30 people.

In November last year, Elise said the temple had been 'rubber-stamped by the government' and said it had been denied the freedom of religion.

'I never thought I was breaking any prostitution laws because everyone who has ever worked at the temple, practiced there, taught there - everything was on donation system.

‘Of course, we did set a certain level of donation that would really help us get by.

'Did people come and go and not leave that amount? Absolutely yes. Did people come and go and come back again and again and did not leave any money? Absolutely true.'