Stillwater 'Taboo Goddess' to get defense attorney after representing self

Kristal Taylor, the woman known as "Taboo Goddess," attempted to defend herself in court Tuesday against a gross misdemeanor charge of running a disorderly house in Stillwater.

But by the end of the 90-minute hearing to determine evidence in the case, she told Judge Susan Miles that she was having trouble navigating all the legal procedures and wanted to enlist an attorney.

"I didn't understand the magnitude of case law," said Taylor, who denies she committed a crime.

The criminal complaint alleges that Taylor, also known as Kristal Ann Zimmerman, operated "a disorderly house in which actions or conduct habitually occurred in violation of laws relating to prostitution."

Taylor has advertised her services as a "Taboo Goddess" dominatrix on a website. It promoted various domination services such as spanking, flogging, paddling, caning and bondage with rope, handcuffs and ankle cuffs to help men achieve sexual pleasure.

On Tuesday in Washington County District Court, Miles expressed her exasperation that Taylor had submitted statements from defense witnesses just the afternoon before the hearing. Neither the judge nor prosecutor John Magnuson had seen them.

"Read my lips. The rules will be ... enforced from now on," said Miles, who had urged Taylor in an earlier hearing to hire an attorney who would understand the necessary filings and proceedings.

Taylor also ran into a flurry of objections from Magnuson, representing the city of Stillwater, during a cross-examination of Sgt. Jeff Stender, the police investigator who had interviewed several alleged male clients after they left Taylor's rented house in a city neighborhood in 2010.

Miles, after telling Taylor repeatedly that she had to ask Stender questions and not make statements, finally cut her off.

The judge gave Taylor until next Tuesday to submit a legal brief to the court justifying her claim that police were lying about items they found at her rented house when executing a search warrant. Miles said that information should have been demonstrated to the court during a proper cross-examination.

"Put this away in the box of experience called, 'Lessons learned trying to represent oneself,' " Miles told Taylor.

Magnuson said after the hearing that Taylor still could take an offer to plead guilty to misdemeanor operation of a disorderly house, a lesser charge than she faces in court. She could do so under an Alford plea, which means she wouldn't admit guilt but would agree that the prosecution has enough evidence for a conviction.

Outside the courtroom, Taylor declined to comment.

Kevin Giles • 651-925-5037 Twitter: @stribgiles