Archuleta dad charged for hiring hooker

David Archuleta's dad Jeff has been charged with soliciting a massage parlour prostitute.

The father of the American Idol season seven runner-up was caught in a raid at the Queens of Reki in Utah in January, according to Us magazine.

Jeff pleaded no contest and paid a $582 fine. However, his lawyer Eric Bauer told NBC4 that he was visiting for "legitimate massage therapy".

Midvale Police Sgt. John Salazar said that officers discovered one client receiving sexual services.

"Two of our detectives went back to that room to stop the activity," said Salazar.

"Inside they found a female masseuse and male client. At that time an interview ensued and the male client admitted to receiving sexual gratification from the masseuse." Court documents identified the man as 41-year-old Jeff.

David Archuleta, who lost out to David Cook in the 2008 Idol final, released his self-titled debut album last year.