Crime & Courts

Richmond Co. | Columbia Co. | Aiken Co. |

Arrests made at Surrey Center club

By Bianca Cain Johnson
Staff Writer
Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013 11:35 AM
Last updated 10:04 PM
  • Comments (30)
    • Follow Crime & courts

    A Surrey Center club was shut down Friday and five arrests were made because the club was operating and selling alcohol without a state license, authorities said.

    Back | Next
    Beck
    Beck
    Try unlimited access to our website, apps or e-edition for just 99¢

    According to Jud Seymour, of the Georgia Department of Revenue, a special agent for the department entered Surreal at Surrey, 469 Highland Ave., on Friday evening and made an undercover alcohol buy. Agents then met with the owners and told them to cease operating.

    The club’s owners, identified as Matthew Gabriel Widener, 32; Clinton Sasser Martin, 31; and Jason Beck, 33, and two employees – Sara Jane Morris, 24, and Crystil Lynne Allen, 28 – were charged with selling alcohol without a license. They were released Tuesday on $1,300 bond each.

    Seymour said the employees were charged for their role in the sales.

    The law states no one may manufacture, distribute, sell, handle or possess for sale, or otherwise deal, in alcoholic beverages without obtaining a license. The license must be displayed prominently on the premises.

    Please login or register to add a comment

    Comments (30)

    Add comment
    ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here and for following agreed-upon rules of civility. Posts and comments do not reflect the views of this site. Posts and comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the "Flag as offensive" link below the comment.
    corgimom
    1558
    Points
    corgimom 01/30/13 - 01:16 pm
    13
    1

    It is so sad that two

    It is so sad that two innocent, hard-working people were arrested because the owners didn't do what they were supposed to do.

    woodymeister
    110
    Points
    woodymeister 01/30/13 - 01:54 pm
    4
    17

    Or a better idea

    Typically nothing good happens in a bar or "club". Get a job somewhere that doesn't breed shady behavior and you'll likely not have to worry about issues like this.

    Fiat_Lux
    8098
    Points
    Fiat_Lux 01/30/13 - 03:20 pm
    9
    1

    The innocent need to sue these owners

    If the employees weren't aware of the illegality of what they were doing, they should sue the owners for all they can get. Those rotten people have done irreparable damage to the people whom they employed.

    dichotomy
    14479
    Points
    dichotomy 01/30/13 - 04:06 pm
    13
    2

    "and two employees

    "and two employees –...............- were charged with selling alcohol without a license."

    Well now that was pretty low down and unnecessary. Okay folks, now when you get a new job anywhere make sure you ask your new employer to see all of their current business licenses, sales tax numbers, and federal and state income tax returns, and any other TAX grab permits that federal, state, and local authorities might require. .

    allhans
    16589
    Points
    allhans 01/30/13 - 04:43 pm
    3
    2

    We don't know the

    We don't know the relationship between these folks...or do we?

    MadisonGH
    58
    Points
    MadisonGH 01/30/13 - 05:03 pm
    9
    2

    2 other employees

    Gosh, my heart breaks for the two other girls that were employees. I know Sara Jane and she is just the sweetest, nicest girl and mom. I really hope this gets cleared from their records. I hate it that they are working hard and putting in late hours for their job, while their bosses are responsible for their arrest.

    itsanotherday1
    19058
    Points
    itsanotherday1 01/30/13 - 07:58 pm
    10
    2

    From the information given,

    From the information given, this sounds like typical heavy handed law enforcement where some judgement should have been employed. Maybe there are details not yet published.

    GiantsAllDay
    3230
    Points
    GiantsAllDay 01/30/13 - 08:55 pm
    5
    3

    Is this the library, surrey

    Unpublished

    GiantsAllDay
    3230
    Points
    GiantsAllDay 01/30/13 - 09:00 pm
    9
    8

    Madison

    Unpublished

    happychimer
    7535
    Points
    happychimer 01/30/13 - 09:59 pm
    6
    3

    If the club owners did not

    If the club owners did not have a license to sell alcohol, then they should have been arrested. It's called breaking the law.

    Gage Creed
    5696
    Points
    Gage Creed 01/30/13 - 11:04 pm
    5
    1

    Thank you Captain Obvious!

    Thank you Captain Obvious!

    GiantsAllDay
    3230
    Points
    GiantsAllDay 01/31/13 - 12:06 am
    9
    10

    Madison

    Unpublished

    itsanotherday1
    19058
    Points
    itsanotherday1 01/31/13 - 12:34 am
    10
    5

    GAD, you are hitting home

    GAD, you are hitting home runs. Small town mentality indeed.

    KSL
    48253
    Points
    KSL 01/31/13 - 01:06 am
    3
    1

    The owners were arrested..

    They were arrested. Who said they should not have been?

    GiantsAllDay
    3230
    Points
    GiantsAllDay 01/31/13 - 01:02 am
    4
    11

    It's another day

    Unpublished

    KSL
    48253
    Points
    KSL 01/31/13 - 01:08 am
    6
    2

    Public information. Don't

    Public information. Don't report names and some partial faction will claim coverup.

    KSL
    48253
    Points
    KSL 01/31/13 - 01:21 am
    2
    3

    Where I work, the license to

    Where I work, the license to do what I do is prominently displayed. I do not want to come down hard on those employees, but if they are serving alcohol, they are charged with cutting off someone who has arrived at the point of becoming over-served. If the establishment has a legitimate license to serve alcohol, would that not be posted somewhere the employees, at least, could see it?

    GiantsAllDay
    3230
    Points
    GiantsAllDay 01/31/13 - 01:36 am
    9
    6

    KSL

    Unpublished

    InChristLove
    11677
    Points
    InChristLove 01/31/13 - 07:15 am
    4
    2

    Deep breath Giant, Deep

    Deep breath Giant, Deep Breath. I agree with you that the servers probably had no idea that the owners did not have a license and should have been able to go home and not been charged. Don't know the officer who arrested everyone so can't make a comment on whether he/she has inadequacies or not but I'm really confused about your statement "No real news here except for religious zealots doing whatever they do". I read the article twist and fail to see where religion is mentioned at all. sincerely hope all this mess will get straightened out for your friend.

    KSL
    48253
    Points
    KSL 01/31/13 - 07:36 am
    2
    4

    Giants, I appreciate your

    Giants, I appreciate your sentiments. But what I see here is more and more getting away from personal responsibility. It is not difficult to check the credentials of someone you work for these days.

    mike1sc
    174
    Points
    mike1sc 01/31/13 - 08:05 am
    0
    3

    Well, we will probably never

    Well, we will probably never know if there was something personal related to this story. It does seem a bit heavy-handed how it was handled. It's not like we had a shooting at this location....oh wait, there have been some bars in the news lately where there was shooting, underage drinking, and selling alcohol without a license.....now this story is beginning to make a little more sense...now I understand.

    Riverman1
    34565
    Points
    Riverman1 01/31/13 - 08:31 am
    2
    1

    IsAnotherDay is Spot On, Heavy Handed

    Absolutely heavy handed law enforcement. They put people in jail because of paperwork? They should have told the owner to get a license, pay a fine for being late and let them continue to operate. If all the Ga Dept of Rev. has to do is these type things, their department funding needs to be cut drastically. Silly, silly, silly.

    wondersnevercease
    3477
    Points
    wondersnevercease 01/31/13 - 08:48 am
    1
    0

    An Agent with the department

    Unpublished

    allhans
    16589
    Points
    allhans 01/31/13 - 09:12 am
    1
    1

    I think I am missing

    I think I am missing something here. Didn't the guys know they needed a license. Could it be they applied for but not issued one for some reason. Just asking.

    soapy_725
    24901
    Points
    soapy_725 01/31/13 - 09:36 am
    1
    0

    Did they have intent to do wrong?

    Unpublished

    belle
    147
    Points
    belle 01/31/13 - 09:57 am
    1
    0

    Arrested not yet guilty

    Unpublished

    Grace422
    143
    Points
    Grace422 01/31/13 - 11:02 am
    1
    1

    Wow this blows my mind..

    Seems like in the past all they would do is shut the place down and fine the owners. I can recall several occurances in the past where that's all that happen. What about the place on hwy 56 when the young guy was shot and passed in the back seat of his freinds car. Was the owner & staff attrested in that incident. Seems like no license and under age drinking was invloved. Heck the girl on riverwatch pkwy will not face criminal charges, but you arrest the employees for doing a job?

    jamc1103
    48
    Points
    jamc1103 01/31/13 - 11:19 am
    0
    1

    The owners

    of this club own at least two other alcohol selling establishments that have been up and running for years without a problem. Therefore, I doubt they would have recently opened this place knowingly breaking the law and risking their other businesses. From what I understand it was a mix up of all the bureaucratic paperwork and the club is already planning to open back up.

    Riverman1
    34565
    Points
    Riverman1 01/31/13 - 11:32 am
    1
    0

    Jamc1103

    That explains a lot. It is absolutely a travesty to have arrested and jailed these people. Someone needs to reel in these state employees flexing their muscle. Do you mean to tell me they couldn't have gotten the owners to get the license with a simple conversation? It gives new meaning to the line, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you."

    Riverman1
    34565
    Points
    Riverman1 01/31/13 - 11:37 am
    0
    0

    Know what I've learned over

    Know what I've learned over my life. When you sweeten things up when dealing with any level of government bureaucrat things go well, when you don't things go poorly.

    Back to Top
    Oklahoma tornado
    Mayfest
    President Obama speaks at Morehouse
    Thunder Over Augusta
    Loading...