Strip club linked to recent shootings could lose liquor license

A Winchester Road strip club linked to three shootings in the past two months could face suspension or revocation of its liquor license by state and local alcoholic beverage control officials.

Diamond Gentleman's Club faces five state violations from 2014 and a host of violations from Urban County ABC officials stemming from incidents during the first six months of 2015.

But Diamond, which was linked to a shooting in May and two shootings in June, has been in trouble with state and local ABC offices at least three times since 2002. It has never lost its liquor license, according to records obtained by the Herald-Leader from the Kentucky Alcoholic Beverage Control office and the Urban County Government ABC office.

On Feb. 8, the club was linked to a shooting in which one man was seriously injured. The club was charged with two counts of violating the state's alcohol law in relation to that incident, according to Urban County ABC documents.

Those charges were pending when Darion Morgan, 22, was shot, allegedly outside the club, in May. Less than a month later, two men were taken to the hospital after a shooting, allegedly outside the nondescript white club, on June 8. The identities of the two men were not released.

Sgt. Jacqueline Newman of the Urban County office of Alcoholic Beverage Control said the club faces additional charges in relation to the May and June shootings on top of the two February violations. The investigation is ongoing, she said.

"Other charges may follow," Newman said.

Diamond has asked to take the case before an administrative law judge, Newman said.

The state ABC office also has five pending charges against Diamond stemming from a Sept. 14 visit. The charges include selling alcohol to a minor, locking a security door, failing to file reports with the secretary of state's office, and failing to pay taxes.

Holly Mullins, a staffer with the state ABC, said the September case is pending.

If convicted of any of the violations, the club's two liquor licenses — one for retail malt beverages and a second for retail liquor drinks — could be suspended temporarily or revoked.

Or the club could face fines.

Errol Cooper Jr., a lawyer who represents Diamond, said he couldn't say much about the pending charges because they don't know all of the details regarding the Urban County ABC charges.

"Some of these shootings were blocks away," Cooper said. "We haven't determined yet what we are going to do until we know more about the specifics of the charges."

Manfred Jaschkowitz, who is listed as the owner of the club, could not be reached for comment.

Diamond has been able to hold on to its liquor licenses despite repeated problems at the club going back 15 years. In 2002, it appealed a suspension by local ABC officials of its alcohol licenses to the state ABC. Those two violations stemmed from selling alcohol to a clearly intoxicated person and for having disorderly premises.

According to state ABC documents, those charges were settled. The documents do not indicate the terms of the settlement.

In 2006, Diamond Gentleman's Club was charged with three violations: selling alcohol to three minors; serving alcohol to an intoxicated employee; and knowingly permitting the sale of marijuana, Valium and oxycodone on the premises. Diamond was given the option of paying a $1,500 fine or having its alcohol licenses suspended for 30 days.

In 2011, Diamond faced violations for failing to notify ABC that it was in bad standing with the state and for allowing patrons to engage in conduct resulting in shots fired in the club. The club pleaded guilty to one count of disorderly premises and was given the option of paying a $1,000 fine or facing a 20-day alcohol license suspension, according to documents provided by the Urban County Government.

Documents in the 2006 and 2011 cases do not indicate whether Diamond paid fines or took the suspensions.

Councilman Bill Farmer, who represents the Winchester Road corridor where the club is, said the fact that Diamond has continued to operate despite its repeated problems is absurd.

ABC needs to move quickly, he said.

"We need to incent them to move as quickly as possible," Farmer said. "These last couple of incidents coupled with everything else that has gone on shows that they are not good neighbors."

This story was originally published July 5, 2015 at 5:11 PM with the headline "Strip club linked to recent shootings could lose liquor license."