The suspected madam of the Tokyo Massage parlor pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of promoting prostitution and conspiracy.

During the same Natrona County District Court hearing, an attorney for Kyong Stodolka said his client has been a U.S. citizen for more than 25 years and is not a flight risk.

Defense attorney Doug Hendrickson tried unsuccessfully to have Stodolka's $75,000 bond lowered. He did convince Judge Thomas Sullins to allow Stodolka to hire a bail bondsman, rather than requiring her to put up all of the cash herself.

Hendrickson argued his client would not flee prosecution because the federal government is working to seize more than $200,000 that belonged to her.

"She wants to maintain her ability to get her money back," Hendrickson told the court.

Stodolka herself spoke only to answer procedural questions and enter her pleas. Unlike past court hearings, the 57-year-old responded to questions Wednesday without the aid of a Korean translator.

She faces up a maximum of six years in prison if convicted on both counts.

Last month, prosecutors charged her and three other people with prostitution-related crimes as part of the investigation of Tokyo Massage. The business, which sits in plain sight along U.S. Highway 20/26 near Natrona County International Airport, has long been rumored to offer sex for money.

Court documents filed as part of the investigation suggest Stodolka ran the massage parlor. Another defendant, June Wilhelmi, told authorities Stodolka received half of the money from sexual services and advertised for prostitutes in The Korean Journal and the Washington Post, according to a sworn statement by a Natrona County sheriff's investigator.

The same document included interviews with several men who said they paid for sex at the business. To date, authorities have not announced any arrests of customers.

Of the four defendants, Stodolka alone has remained in custody since authorities searched Tokyo Massage on Jan. 7. She also received the highest bond.

Hendrickson said defendants charged with violent felonies have received much lower bonds than his client.

"She is obviously not a danger to the community," he said.

According to Hendrickson, Stodolka has been in Casper since 1999 but owns a home in Minnesota, where her son lives. The defense attorney said he was willing to surrender Stodolka's passport as part of her release.

In response, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Stensaas pointed out that Stodolka has given judges conflicting answers about how long she has been in Casper.

"Her really only connection to this community is an unlawful connection," he said.

Stodolka is set for trial in April. She is the second Tokyo Massage defendant to enter a plea in the case.

Okki Shoffler, who is charged with misdemeanor prostitution, pleaded not guilty last month. Wilhelmi and Ken Robertson, who is suspected of doing odd jobs at the business, have yet to be arraigned.

Reach crime reporter Joshua Wolfson at (307) 266-0582 or at josh.wolfson@trib.com.