BABYDOL ORDERED TO STAND TRIAL FOR FELONY PIMPING.

Byline: Jesse Hiestand Staff Writer

Accused madam Jody Babydol Gibson was ordered Wednesday to stand trial on charges that she ran an international prostitution ring that catered to the rich and famous.

Gibson did not react visibly as Van Nuys Municipal Court Judge Gregg Marcus said he found enough evidence during the preliminary hearing to try her on 12 felony counts of pimping and pandering.

``It was a hard fought contest,'' Marcus said, referring to the hearing that lasted more than a month, with several delays and battles over lost or undisclosed police evidence. ``The court feels the people have met their burden as to these counts.''

The 41-year-old Gibson, who has pleaded not guilty and is free on bail, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on all counts. She is set to be arraigned in Superior Court on Nov. 10.

Gibson's attorney sought the dismissal of all counts, but only one was dropped, and that was due to a filing error by prosecutors.

Most of the charges rest on the claims of five women whom authorities say worked as prostitutes for Gibson's escort service, which catered to clients including Hollywood actors, Fortune 500 executives and even a professional athlete.

The judge ruled Wednesday that it was unnecessary for the women to testify at the hearing, as had been repeatedly requested by defense attorney Gerald Scotti, who wanted to cross-examine them.

``They would have said things that would have taken apart the prosecution's case,'' Scotti told the judge.

Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Richard Walmark built his case on the testimony of Los Angeles police officers who say they infiltrated Gibson's service or paid her prostitutes for sex.

Walmark argued that Gibson committed pandering by influencing the women to work as prostitutes.

Scotti said the women needed no encouragement because they had already been working as prostitutes before they met his client.