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Deputies make arrests in raids at clubs
The state Legislature passed a bill that allows law enforcement to take action in gentlemen's clubs.
By EMILY VASQUEZ and COLLEEN JENKINS
Published July 29, 2005
Lunchtime shows at six west Pasco gentleman's clubs were interrupted Thursday when undercover sheriff's deputies arrested 15 exotic dancers, most for prostitution or exposure of sexual organs.
It was the first strip club sting Pasco sheriff's deputies have pulled since April 2003 when a court decision ruled law enforcement officers couldn't serve as the "offended parties," or witnesses, in lewdness cases.
That decision made deputies powerless to enforce existing laws regulating behavior inside the clubs, said Lt. Robert Sullivan, who directed Thursday's operation.
But a Florida bill, sponsored by Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, and Rep. John Legg, R-Port Richey, that went into effect July 1, returned the right to law enforcement officers to testify as the offended party.
It opened up the door to continue enforcement activities, Sullivan said. And Thursday, deputies went in.
"I had numerous officers in each of those eight bars and backup officers outside," Sullivan said.
Club owners, he said, weren't very surprised.
"I believe they were expecting it," Sullivan said. "They really couldn't care less. One of the owners is sending a limousine to pick up the dancers to bring them back to work."
But several of the customers, he said, were clearly nervous.
In two of the clubs though, Sullivan said nobody even knew deputies were there. Foxy Lady at 4233 U.S. 19 in New Port Richey and Club 54 at 3953 Grand Blvd. were found in compliance with the law, he said.
"We just slipped in and slipped out," he said.
In all, deputies said, 15 arrests were made. Reports were available Thursday evening on seven of them.
At least one woman, 20-year-old Carolyn Ann Talbot of Oldsmar, was charged only with solicitation for sale of an alcoholic beverage. It is illegal, Sullivan said, for an entertainer to solicit alcoholic beverages.
At least three women were charged with exposure of sexual organs: Hope Renne Macdermott, 33, of Hudson; Tabatha Lynn Laturno, 32, of New Port Richey; and Crystal Nicole Ambrose, 22, of Spring Hill.
At least another four were charged with prostitution for similar exposures performed in secluded areas of the clubs that also involved contact with undercover deputies.
Those charged with prostitution included Jennifer Dorothy Burton, 38, a resident of Canada; Jaclyn Ruth "Vivian" Frank, 24, of Spring Hill; Patricia Marion "Ashely" Lufkin, 27, of New Port Richey; and Shannon Artina Scarvelli, 30, of St. Petersburg.
All but two of the women arrested were given notices to appear in court and released from custody Thursday afternoon, Sullivan said. Two women were booked in to the Pasco County jail, he said: one woman who had an existing Pasco County warrant and Burton because she is not a U.S. resident.
Tampa lawyer Luke Lirot was barely off a plane home Thursday when his phone started ringing and ringing. The calls were from Pasco County adult entertainment club owners, some of Lirot's most contentious clients.
"We're being raided," they said.
Back in the saddle, Lirot thought.
It was Lirot who twice convinced judges in Pasco that arrests of exotic dancers on lewd conduct charges were illegal because law enforcement officers couldn't be considered offended members of the public.
State Attorney Bernie McCabe appealed the case last year; the 2nd District Court of Appeal has not yet ruled.
Then came the new legislation, which Lirot said Thursday is unconstitutional. He plans to vigorously defend the charges, he said, and pursue civil damages for the dancers, as well.
"I think every officer that participated in these cases are both individually and officially exposed to civil rights violation liability," Lirot said, "because they know (from the court rulings) what they can and can't do."
Sen. Fasano says nothing about the new law is unconstitutional.
"All we are doing is saying if a law enforcement officer sees a crime, he's able to do something about it," Fasano said. "This only deals with people who are actually breaking the law."
Fasano said his motivation for sponsoring the bill was the complaints he fielded from concerned Hudson area residents.
"This was done because people in the community asked us to do something that would give more strength to the law enforcement agencies."
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