Church blocking adult business scrutinized

Friday, July 14, 2000 | 11:15 a.m.

A church that stands in the way of a proposed adult business in the city of Las Vegas is not registered with the state as a nonprofit organization and is run by a minister who is not registered by the state to perform marriages.

Also, Clark County records show that the church's minister, Annette Marie Patterson, is the sister of Rick Rizzolo, who runs a rival adult business to the one that wants to set up operation in the former office building of high-profile Nevada political adviser Sig Rogich.

Patterson's recently opened Universal Church for Life Enhancement on South Highland Drive has caused city planners to deny an application by the prospective buyers of Rogich's building who want to turn it into a topless club.

Zoning code requires a 1,000-foot separation between adult businesses and churches. The church is 219 feet away from the building that is proposed to open as The Boardroom, featuring topless dancers.

Rizzolo's Crazy Horse Too on South Industrial Road also is a topless dance bar where Patterson works as a controller.

Secretary of State records show no listing for the Universal Church for Life Enhancement as a non-profit organization. Patterson also is not registered with the Secretary of State's office to perform marriages -- a key function of many legitimate churches.

Regardless of how suspicious those factors may look, the city says it is in no position to challenge the legitimacy of a church.

"The First Amendment protects the practice of religion and the government must remain content neutral," said Las Vegas City Attorney Brad Jerbic, noting that churches are not required to get business licenses in the city.

Patterson, reached en route to work at the Crazy Horse Too early today, declined to comment, saying she was too busy.

Clark County Recorder's office records show that Patterson has been married three times since 1980, most recently to Daniel Eric Patterson on May 5, 1995. Secretary of State's office records show that the only business Patterson is registered as an officer with is Stellar Research Corp., of Henderson, which lists her as secretary/treasurer and her current husband as president.

City of Henderson business licensing records show Annette M. Patterson as operator of the Well Being Institute, which is described as "an internet and mail order company that sells cassettes, books, bath and body products and crystals."

In April, when Rogich requested a tavern license for his former offices on Westwood Drive, planners objected because of the building's proximity to another tavern and a youth boxing club.

The City Council voted 4-2 to approve a tavern license after disputed measurements showed Rogich's building to be 17 inches beyond the minimum required distance to an elementary school.

Jerbic said the lease for the church on Highland was entered into just two days before that vote, which allows the business to sell liquor but not feature topless dancers.

Rogich, an adviser to Texas Gov. George W. Bush's presidential campaign, is in the process of selling his old building to Ali and Hassan Davari of Houston.

The Davari brothers applied July 3 for a special use permit to allow a topless club at the building. Their purchase of Rogich's building could be contingent on city approval of the use permit for an adult business.

Rogich could not be reached for comment this morning.