Fire-breathing bartenders arrested, face 45 years
Three felonies with a possible 45 years in jail for flaming shots? Is this for real? I mean, this is what they're charged with:Two fire-breathing bartenders face up to 45 years in prison each for performing flaming bar tricks.
Jimmy's Old Town Tavern owner Jimmy Cirrito said his bartenders have been entertaining his customers -- by juggling bottles of alcohol and spitting out streams of flames using matchbooks and lighters -- for more than a decade and no one's complained. But shortly after midnight on July 24, two of his longtime employees were hauled out of the Herndon bar in handcuffs and charged with three felonies each plus other misdemeanors
Fairfax County fire investigators charged Tegee Rogers, 33, of Herndon, and Justin Fedorchak, 39, of Manassas, with manufacturing an explosive device, setting a fire capable of spreading, and burning or destroying a meeting house. They also were charged with several state fire code misdemeanors.For doing flaming shots. That means anyone that has ever downed a shot of Everclear, then lit a cigarette afterwards to impress their date (heh) is guilty of being a terrorist in VA. There has GOT to be more to this story than what's being reported here, there just has to. The bar owner's gotta be nailing the fire chief's wife or something, or maybe he shut off one too many fire captains at closing call...
First off, maybe it's just my poor understanding of the law, but how can a fire investigator charge anyone with anything? Wouldn't they report to a DA or somesuch who would then do the charging? Secondly, to call this a stretch (no relation) would be an offense to anything with tensile ability - going from a flaming shot to "manufacturing an explosive device" is just about the biggest leap of faith I've ever seen. And "setting a fire capable of spreading"??? Wouldn't that be, oh, EVERY FIRE EVER SET?
In any case, be careful with your Bacardi 151 in VA, folks...
That is all.
5 comments:
Wonder if they'll set up a Task Force and send in Undercover Agents to find out if the Boy Scouts are still lighting Farts in the woods?
There's a name for peole like this TIME WASTERS.
Surely the fire guy can be charged with opening a public office to ridicule, wasting state funds, being a twat and several other crimes?
SBW
"First off, maybe it's just my poor understanding of the law, but how can a fire investigator charge anyone with anything?"
Fire Marshals and their assistants (which I assume would include "investigators") have the same police powers in Virginia as a sheriff, police officer or law-enforcement officer if authorized by their city/town/county. Va. Code Sec. 27-34.2:1
I agree that the actual charges are a stretch.
Need the Paul Harvey on this one; though a read of Radley Balko's archives might suggest some things.
The most serious charge "Setting Fire to a Meeting House" requires malicious intent as an element. See http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-79 for the full text.
What you failed to mention is that the Fire Marshall and the cops who perpetrated this have all attended memorial gatherings for fallen firefighters and cops at that restaurant (Virginia does not have bars) where the firebreathing is performed. Nary a word about the potential illegality.
Lots of folks are trying to say the stunt could result in a tragedy like "The Station" in Rhode Island a few years ago. But if we arrest everybody for what they might do all the women wouyld be locked up for prostitution and the men for solicitation. Even the congresscritters.
stay safe.
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