Strip Club Owners Sue Minister

MONTPELIER, La. (AP) — The owner of a St. Helena Parish strip club has filed a lawsuit against a pastor for comments the minister allegedly made while lobbying to have the club shut down.

The Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/19GrTVm) Tyrone Butler, owner of The Mansion near Montpelier, filed the defamation lawsuit in state District Court against the Rev. Richard Sandberg, pastor of New Zion Baptist Church in Kentwood.

Butler also names the Moral Alliance of St. Helena as a defendant; Sandberg runs the organization.

Butler's claim is based on comments Sandberg made during a June 25 meeting of the parish Police Jury.

Jurors were discussing a resolution exempting current sexually oriented businesses such as Butler's from an ordinance adopted June 11 that regulates strip clubs and similar businesses.

The resolution passed on a 4-2 vote.

Categories: State News