In a letter dated Tuesday, Chief Douglas County District Judge Robert Fairchild denied the Journal-World’s request that the court release the affidavit supporting the arrest of a 45-year-old woman accused of prostitution and human trafficking at a Lawrence massage parlor.

Guihong Xiao

Guihong Xiao, of Lawrence, was arrested April 28 and charged with two counts of aggravated human trafficking, one count of promoting the sale of sexual relations and one count of misdemeanor selling sexual relations in connection with sex-crime allegations at Spring Massage, 600 Lawrence Ave.

The Journal-World requested the court release Xiao’s arrest affidavit earlier this month in accordance with a 2014 law presuming affidavits to be public documents and allowing anyone to request them. Attorneys on the cases may weigh in under the law, but judges have the ultimate say over whether an affidavit should be released, redacted or sealed.

Both the defense and prosecution in Xiao’s case filed motions to seal the affidavit, Fairchild said. He said Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson in his motion was concerned that the affidavit’s release would interfere with the ongoing investigation, which “may result in other individuals being charged.”

“(Branson) contends that disclosure of the affidavit would jeopardize that investigation by giving other suspects information they may not have,” Fairchild said.

The 2014 law allows judges to seal affidavits if disclosure would “interfere with any prospective law enforcement action, criminal investigation or prosecution.” Fairchild said he found that Xiao’s arrest affidavit should be sealed “until further order of the court.”

The Journal-World also requested the arrest affidavit of Xiao’s codefendant Chen Li. Fairchild’s letter did not address that case.