(La Porte, IN) - A La Porte man is facing allegations that he ran a full service bar from his home with offerings that included food and gambling.
Scott Meece, 45, is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with level 6 felony maintaining a common nuisance along with two misdemeanor counts of selling alcohol beverages without a permit and unauthorized furnishing of alcoholic beverages.
According to court documents, the several month long investigation included an undercover officer purchasing beer on separate occasions at the “Iron Horse Saloon” operated from his residence in the 100 block of West McClung Road. The price for a beer was $2 and $3 for a mixed drink.
Police said there were about 15 people wearing mostly leather jackets and “Iron Horse Saloon t-shirts inside the bar during each visit along with men and women role playing as bartenders. The investigation also revealed each person was charged $10 to come inside and ID’s were checked to make sure everyone was at least 21, police said.
The gambling included a game involving a $20 buy in and winner choosing either the cash price or a motorcycle, police said. Two sloppy joes and chips for $5 were also made available.
According to court documents, police became involved after Meece ignored a couple of cease and desist orders from the La Porte County Health Department for operating a business without a license.
Police said among the items seized during a June 14th search of the home were more than 200 brand name bottles that contained anything from beer and hard lemonade to whiskey, tequila, vodka and rum.
There were also plenty of various marijuana products seized, which came as no surprise to law enforcement considering the distinct odor of the drug was detected in the undercover portion of the investigation.
According to court documents, Meece told investigators the bar was a not for profit organization and no alcohol was sold. He described the money collected for drinks as donations for a variety of worthy causes. Meece also claimed his alleged customers were all family members and friends bringing alcohol on weekend visits.
However, police said the search turned up inventories of alcoholic beverages inside log books that also listed profit margins.
