Treasures dancer not guilty of prostitution

Sito Negron

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2004 | 10:54 a.m.

Head down as she sobbed, Treasures dancer Barbara Lewis was found guilty of violating Las Vegas' erotic dance ordinance Tuesday.

However, she was found not guilty on a more serious charge of prostitution. When Judge George Assad read the verdict, she hurried out of the courtroom, stopping at the door to ask her lawyers, Louis Palazzo and Ross Goodman, "What does that mean?"

What it means is the Las Vegas City Council won't have an additional prostitution conviction to consider on Sept. 15 when it weighs the broader issue of whether Treasures can keep its liquor license.

Mark Fiorentino, the lawyer for the $30-million strip club, promised during a licensing hearing that Treasures would not contest the issue if one of its dancers was convicted on sex-related charges such as prostitution and City Council decided to revoke the liquor license.

One such conviction for prostitution already has occurred. One more case is pending.

However, the discussion appears to be shifting, as Fiorentino has taken two approaches: He has said he never should have made the promise, which put the owners in an impossible situation; and he has emphasized the steps Treasures has taken to run an exemplary operation.

In addition, a city audit of Treasures that follows a Texas inquiry into the club owners' banking practices in Houston. Brothers Ali and Hassan Davari own the club. The Texas report is due this week.

Also adding to the drama: Only five members of council have voted on the issue -- Mayor Oscar Goodman has abstained because his son Ross Goodman represents the Treasures dancers, and Councilman Michael Mack has abstained because he has a consulting contract with the club.

The Treasures issue has been alive for months, but has been taken down to the wire because the temporary liquor license expires Sept. 16.

During the Lewis trial, Judge Assad said that the city prosecutors failed to prove each element required for a prostitution citation. He did not elaborate; however, during the trial he had questioned the police version of events, and noted several times that the undercover officer, as part of his guise as a tourist, had consumed some alcohol.

Lewis was fined $500 and ordered to pay court costs of $132 for the erotic dance code violation.

After the verdict was read, Louis Palazzo said that it was the right decision.

"There's been a restoration of the concept of reasonable doubt in the decisions down here," he said.