DA: Two won’t face charges in probe of Rio’s topless pool

Monday, Sept. 14, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

Sapphire Pool arrests

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Map of The Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino

3700 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas

Metro: Prostitution, drug activity found at topless Rio pool (7-29-09)
Rio closes topless pool after Metro Police check (7-28-09)

The Clark County District Attorney’s office won’t file charges against two women arrested in a Metro Police undercover operation in July at the Rio’s Sapphire Pool.

Metro Police said in July that Phoenix Kuzara was arrested in connection with soliciting prostitution and Brooke Firks was arrested in connection with obstructing a public officer. A spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office last week said charges won’t be filed against either woman because of insufficient evidence.

The following women arrested at the Sapphire Pool on July 25 were charged by the district attorney’s office with soliciting prostitution: Jennah Lieboff, Melissa Cortney Essmaker, Galiana Slavshea Georgieva, Elizabeth Alma Corbin, Tobi Jean Sorenson (two counts), Inna Kokin (two counts) and Erica Hefley (two counts).

Five of the women are scheduled to appear in court for misdemeanor arraignments on Sept. 24. Georgieva will appear on Sept. 25 and Hefley on Oct. 12

Charges haven’t been filed against Michelle Campbell, who police said was arrested on two counts of soliciting prostitution; possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine; possession of a controlled substance – marijuana; and possession of narcotics paraphernalia.

Other charges include those against Hefley and Victor Manuel Camarillo, who were charged with sale of cocaine, conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substance Act and possession of cocaine with the intent to sell.

Hefley is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 24 for a felony arraignment. Camarillo will have a preliminary hearing on Jan. 14.

The Sapphire Pool was the Rio’s topless pool, where Sapphire Gentlemen’s Club dancers would appear topless during the day. The Rio made the decision to close the pool indefinitely after the arrests.

Charges haven’t been filed against the Rio or the Sapphire Gentlemen’s Club. The two had jointly operated the pool. Nevada Gaming Control Board Enforcement Division Chief Jerry Markling said he couldn’t discuss whether the Rio would be fined.

Undercover Gaming Control officers were with Metro Police during the July 25 investigation, arrest affidavits indicated. Markling said Gaming Control officers often work with Metro Police during such investigations.

Discussion: 25 comments so far…

By Birdiedreamin

9/14/09 at 2:46 a.m.

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hey david complete and total failure roger...
what the hell is going on with the hepatitis epidemic???
hmmm???
do you think those criminals will be playing golf today???
do you think those criminals laugh out loud at you all day every day???
david roger is a failure...
david roger is a complete and total faailure!!!
By VegasFan

9/14/09 at 7:10 a.m.

Comment removed by staff. Comment included a personal attack.
By neiman1

9/14/09 at 7:44 a.m.

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We arrest people for prostitution and drugs. We plaster their faces and names on the local rag. Then we drop charges because there wasn't enough evidence to warrant the arrest.

Where do these people go for justice? To the police? To the Sun? Or just too bad, oops, sorry bout that.
By shutyertrap

9/14/09 at 11:30 a.m.

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I just want to know how to volunteer to help the police on their next undercover operation at a topless pool. I am sure it requires HOURS of surveillance and evidence gathering. Given the recent budget crisis, I think citizen volunteers would save a ton of money.
By KillerB

9/14/09 at 12:34 p.m.

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neiman1 -- amen to that
By Rocco

9/14/09 at 12:39 p.m.

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good point...your just out of luck dont get swept up in a raid....better yet how about not hanging out looking like a hooker around hookers and drug dealers ...that might be good place to start...and if you you have a stripper name and clear heals you should just get picked up and cited for somthing ...lol
By CharlesDarwin

9/14/09 at 12:52 p.m.

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Do a Google search on her name. Metro police and the Las Vegas Sun have destroyed her for life. And she was innocent.

For the rest of her life, a Google search will bring up embarrassing articles tying her in to prostitution. 20 years from now, 30 years from now, 40 years from now, she will have to explain to potential employers as well as her future grandchildren why there are articles on the net accusing her of prostitution.

Looks like the Victimless Crimes Unit is actually creating victims. And so is the Las Vegas Sun with its "blue nose" tongue-wagging mentality.
By 2zero

9/14/09 at 1:28 p.m.

Comment removed by staff.
By vegasj

9/14/09 at 1:42 p.m.

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Has the mayor come up with the putting the hookers in a cage on the strip for public viewing yet? Like he did with the graffiti perps?

Bet mommy and daddy are proud of their lil girls.
By atdleft

9/14/09 at 2:05 p.m.

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So the point of all those arrests at The Sapphire Pool was... What again? Oh yes, to show all of us sinners that the saints at Vice & Virtue... Oops, I meant Metro... are watching us. When were we annexed by Utah? I don't remember when the Fundie Mormons conquered Vegas and banned all fun.
By Bodytalk555

9/14/09 at 3:53 p.m.

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A topless pool with strippers walking around. Sounds real lame anyway.
By VegasGM85

9/14/09 at 3:58 p.m.

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Bodytalk555 - Indeed! I guess thats how they attract the creeps and not those just looking for the 'European" pool experience...
By judgesmales

9/14/09 at 4:50 p.m.

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These girls have made a meth of their lives.
By spocanon

9/14/09 at 5:05 p.m.

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Maybe they should go to ACORN for some ASSistance with their housing needs.
By californiagrl

9/14/09 at 5:21 p.m.

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i thought prostitution was legal in nevada? i see prostitutes all the time. why not legalize it, control it and tax it? it would keep drug dealers away, jails emptier and disease under better control or am i getting too governmental for some?
By ElRavioli

9/14/09 at 6:45 p.m.

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As soon as Sen. Hairy Reed learned these women were all members of Acorn, he instructed Metro to release them. Charges were dropped but the suspects were sentenced to watching My Mother The Car reruns and reading Mike Smith's inutile blathering. One girl looked at the alternative and said, "I'd rather go straight to h#ll."
By Desert_Rat

9/14/09 at 7:18 p.m.

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Crack is whack
By VegasFan

9/14/09 at 8:02 p.m.

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Im very disappointed that my comment was removed by a staff that I criticized in civilized tones. For the record, I suggested that the online staff doesn't have editors who direct their reporters to ask the "why" questions that the LV SUN promotes as part of the reason to read their content. (I havent seen anything to remotely prove otherwise). I suggested in polite tones that these reporters often times seem to accept press releases as being gospel. And finally I suggested that it was irresponsible to print the names and pictures of people who as it turns out there was insufficient evidence to even charge and how a story on how that could happen would be more engaging that the above. If that is an attack, I fear the LV SUN online needs to grow a thicker skin.
By Tim Richardson (Staff)

9/14/09 at 10:59 p.m.

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VegasFan, if you're interested only in stories from the printed Las Vegas Sun, I would direct you to this link:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/todays-paper/...

The Las Vegas Sun has a wide audience, especially on the Internet. Some are interested in our in-depth analytical and investigative stories that often come from the print edition. Some follow our breaking news stories online, and others like our sports and entertainment coverage. Like any well-rounded news organization, we offer a wide variety of content.

Reading every story is opt-in since you decide what to click on. A good rule of thumb for you might be to only read the stories on the "today's paper" page that I included above.

The media frequently publish names of suspects who are arrested for alleged crimes. In this particular case, the names of those arrested were published in both local and national reports. The development that charges won't be filed hadn't been previously reported, and we thought it was important that the public know this information.
By VegasFan

9/15/09 at 2:56 a.m.

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Mr. Richardson...thank you for your comments. I know that this story is not the proper forum for an ombudsman sort of exchange but I appreciate your statement and frankly didn't know the print only version was available as a web page option. The Las Vegas Sun is my primary local news source, indeed my home page and I will switch it accordingly. Still its confusing that one part of the paper has an editorial policy that supports in-depth analytical and investigative stories and editing and fact checking (which I do value) and the other seems to have lessor standards. I'm not quite prepared to opt-all on all stories posted on the site, but i think its still fair criticism that those reporters who have the different approach be identified (in other words, how hard would it be to use as a byline REPORTER NAME (ONLINE STAFF). As such, I imagine "breaking news" still requires some effort to ask basic questions such as "what evidence do you have" before printing someone's name and photo and I didnt see in your response that this basic tenet of journalistic ethics is followed.

Opt in or out -- people will rely on the great LV SUN (not said facetiously, I agree with the Pulitzer committee that the SUN is one of the best). When part of the program, for whatever policy stated, doesn't meet the same high standards of the company name then criticism will follow. Not totally naive as to the role of new media in keeping the LV SUN and other great sources of information alive -- the sacrifice of integrity cant be made for the salacious and all too easy reposting of spoon fed information from an agency with an agenda and bias in lieu of good old fashioned journalistic ethics.

Perhaps an online ombudsman column might be a good idea. Don't get me started on the stories (i.e. Sun winning awards, DJ AM's death, etc. that don't allow comments). But alas, another day...
By hooloogoo

9/15/09 at 1:54 p.m.

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.
..
...Who were these girls hustling..? Blind men...?
..
.
By goingbust

9/15/09 at 2:08 p.m.

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I like the scrawny one with long dark hair the best. Which does she charge?
By spock

9/15/09 at 4:16 p.m.

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Who are they, Team 10 foot pole?
By Alison

11/16/09 at 8:37 a.m.

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I'm sure that having their trumped-up charges dismissed makes having their faces splattered all over the national media ALLLL BETTEEERRR...

Their jobs were taken from them, their sheriff's cards were pulled, their lives were ruined. LVMPD Vice officers have a history of charging outcall dancers and strip club dancers with solicitation... without ANY evidence of a crime except the officer's statements. With all the technology available, how hard would it be for them to use a recording device to prove that there was a solicitation? They obviously know they can do as they please, arrest as they please, without consequence... because who would believe a stripper or hooker's word over a cops?

And the kicker is that the rest of the solicitation charges will likely be dismissed as well... since there is likely little to no "real" evidence and obviously these girls do not have criminal records or they wouldn't qualify for mandatory sheriff's card.

Grrr...