A New York woman charged with prostitution after an undercover investigation at a Salem nail salon avoided jail time this week by pleading guilty to a lesser charge.

Yi Shen, 44, of Fresh Meadows, N.Y., appeared in Salem General District Court on Friday. A native of China, she communicated entirely through an interpreter during her hearing.

Shen pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct and was sentenced to 10 days in jail, with that time suspended. Judge John Quigley also fined her $1,250.

"We felt very strongly that she was not guilty of the actual prostitution charge, but she certainly ran the risk of being convicted of another charge," said Ray Ferris, Shen's lawyer. "We felt this was a reasonable compromise.

"I don't think anybody is happy, which is the first sign of a good compromise."

But Salem Commonwealth's Attorney Tom Bowers said he was pleased with the outcome, which he said shut down a business involved with illegal activity.

"She moved on," he said after Friday's hearing.

In May, Salem police said they received complaints about the K Nail & Hair Salon in the 2000 block of West Main Street. According to search warrants, an undercover detective went to the salon and received a body massage from a female attendant. After it was completed, police said Shen entered the room and, after negotiating a $60 fee, removed the investigator's underwear and began performing additional illegal services. Lt. Mike Green said other investigators then entered the room, stopped the session and took Shen into custody.

Bowers said proving the prostitution charge would've been difficult.

"This was mostly just touching," he said.

"The facts as we understood them lent themselves to differing interpretations of what was in the minds of different folks involved," Ferris said.

The day after the arrest, K Nail & Hair Salon moved to a new location on Franklin Road in Roanoke. Ferris said Shen is no longer an employee at the establishment.