Sports bar owner charged over violation of virus rules
The owner of a Pittsburg sports bar is facing a criminal misdemeanor count for allegedly operating in violation of local COVID19 health orders. It’s the first time that the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office is bringing criminal charges against a business for disobeying coronavirusrelated health protocol.
The charges result from an investigation conducted on June 11 by agents of California’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, who were following up on a complaint that alcohol was being sold inside the premises of Skorz Sports Bar in violation of health orders, said John Carr, ABC public information officer.
The ABC forwarded its findings to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, which has now charged Skorz owner Kimberly Beatrice Dixon, 52, with violating a local health official order.
“We’re mindful of the fact that businesses are struggling right now and the health officer orders are evolving,” said Scott Alonso, public information officer for the District Attorney’s Office. That’s why, he said, “we’re trying to reserve criminal prosecution for the most blatant violations.”
District Attorney Diana Becton is bringing a second criminal charge against Dixon, for selling alcohol with a suspended license. The ABC suspended Skorz’ license in February “due to an outstanding tax issue with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration,” said Carr. A codefendant named Carla Kacprzak, identified by Becton’s office as a bartender at Skorz, is also charged with unlicensed sale of alcohol.
Becton’s office set up a complaint hotline shortly after the coronavirus shutdown began, encouraging members of the public to report concerns. Alonso said that since March, the hotline has received hundreds of calls about possible infractions in Contra Costa County. The office also relies on the ABC, which conducts regular compliance checks, for information about restaurants and bars.
In most cases, Alonso said, when the District Attorney’s Office has learned about coronavirus health order violations, it has chosen not to prosecute. “Our first priority is to educate businesses and get them into compliance, and the vast majority have done so,” he said. The office also has the authority to administer fines.
A county church was cited in April for violating the health orders, but Becton’s office has not yet made a decision about whether to bring criminal charges, Alonso said.
He stressed the importance of holding businesses accountable during this time.
“The virus is still being transmitted locally, and we have to give appropriate guidance to protect the public,” Alonso said. “Ultimately, if a business is repeatedly violating these orders, that’s not only putting the public at risk, but also putting their employees at risk.”
Contra Costa County has had 15,424 confirmed coronavirus cases, resulting in 192 deaths. The county is currently designated as “purple” in California’s colorcoded risk assessment system, which means that bars and restaurants cannot host customers indoors, and bars may open only if they serve food. The county began allowing outdoor dining on June 5.
Reached by email, Kacprzak — who goes by Carla McManus — said she had been misidentified as a bartender at Skorz while briefly filling in for Dixon when there was a fenderbender involving her car outside. “I actually don’t work there,” she wrote. “Kim’s car got hit in the parking lot and she asked me if (I) could help while she went to try to see if anyone got the plates.”
Dixon did not respond to a request for comment.
An arraignment is scheduled in Pittsburg for Nov. 6. If the case goes to a jury trial, the defendants could face county jail time, but Alonso said the more likely outcome was “a significant fine.”