BRIDGEPORT — The criminal case against City Councilwoman Eneida Martinez, accused of violating the restrictions of the pandemic at a social club she managed, has been continued to November.
Martinez, 50, is charged with second-degree reckless endangerment and 10 counts of illegal sale of alcohol.
During a brief appearance in Superior Court Tuesday morning, Martinez did not enter pleas to the charges and the case was continued to Nov. 15 by Judge Ndidi Moses for further pretrial discussions.
Martinez, who represents the East End, is running for reelection to her council seat this year. The continuance means the court hearing will occur after the September primary and November general election.
Martinez’s lawyer, John R. Gulash, declined comment as they left the Golden Hill Street courthouse.
Martinez had been managing the former Keystone strip club on Barnum Avenue as a social club, according to police.
On the evening of Sept. 27, 2020, 21-year-old Nyair Charles Nixon was shot inside the club before stumbling outside and being hit by a car, according to police. There has been no arrest in the homicide.
Martinez was arrested several weeks later.
At the time, Martinez and Council President Aidee Nieves announced the former would step away from her role as council majority leader and from her subcommittee work while police investigated the Keystone shooting.
Nieves had called the allegations against Martinez “disturbing” but resisted calls for Martinez to resign “for her to have due process.” There were also protests outside of Nieves’ home calling for Martinez’s ouster.
With her case dragging on, Martinez was allowed to resume those duties this past April.
Nieves had said Martinez was popular with her constituents, a good committee chairperson, and deserved to get back to work as she headed to reelection.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit in Martinez’s case, when detectives went to Keystone to investigate the homicide, they saw handwritten signs on the entrance door stating it was a social club and patrons were allowed to bring their own alcoholic beverages.
The affidavit states Martinez told Capt. Brian Fitzgerald she was the manager of the Keystone Lounge but it was owned by Gus Curcio. When the homicide occurred, Martinez stated she was in the rear of the establishment and did not see the shooting, the affidavit states.
While reviewing surveillance video from inside Keystone, the affidavit states, Fitzgerald observed that most employees were not wearing face masks or any face coverings, patrons entered and remained inside without masks and there were no attempts to enforce social distancing. In fact, patrons at the bar area were standing so close they often touched, the affidavit states.
The affidavit states that the video showed Martinez working behind the bar, observing the sale of alcoholic beverages to patrons, and also observing the collection of money by security personnel.
There was no sign-in book or list of active members and employees were charging everyone admission to enter, the affidavit states. Security personnel checked many patrons for weapons but not all, the affidavit states.
At the time of the homicide, there were at least 200 people in the establishment, the affidavit states.
“When speaking to Martinez, she acknowledged that more people were probably inside than allowed,” the affidavit states.
Under health code rules because of the pandemic, Keystone — as an indoor recreational establishment — would have a limit of 50 percent occupancy with patrons and employees required to wear masks and use social distancing, the affidavit states.
"continued" - Google News
August 18, 2021 at 03:03AM
https://ift.tt/2Uv2zAy
Bridgeport councilwoman’s court case continued until after election - CTPost
"continued" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2WiTaZN
https://ift.tt/2YquBwx
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Bridgeport councilwoman’s court case continued until after election - CTPost"
Post a Comment