PENSACOLA - A grand jury has returned a sealed report but no indictments against Escambia County's sheriff and administrator in an investigation of allegations they had pressured a strip club owner to forgive nearly $6,000 in credit card charges.
Sheriff Ron McNesby and County Administrator George Touart said Wednesday that their lawyers advised them against commenting until the report is public.
It will remain sealed for as long as 15 days to give those named a chance to file motions asking a judge to remove portions they consider improper or unlawful.
The 21-member grand jury heard testimony from about 20 witnesses, said Assistant State Attorney Dick Schoditsch.
Arety Sievers, owner of Arety's Angels, said McNesby and Touart asked her to write off the charges the administrator's son, Matthew, 23, made on his father's stolen credit card. She said she refused and alleged police then raided her club in retaliation, arresting dancers on charges of violating laws against body contact with customers.
Her club is best known for entertaining University of El Paso-Texas football coach Mike Price before he was fired from the University of Alabama last year.
Sievers said she was not surprised the grand jury declined to indict anyone, saying it allowed politics to take priority. McNesby is seeking re-election this year. "My reaction is not sour grapes," she said. "This is about justice."
She plans to pursue a civil case and has complainedto the Florida Commission on Ethics.
Earlier this month the grand jury also cleared McNesby of wrongdoing in the sale of eight county-owned trailers to a campaign contributor.
