ONTARIO REVOKES BAR'S ALCOHOL PERMIT

Mi Casa Owner's Attorney Says Action Based On Allegations Of Drug Sales And
Other Violations Was Premature.

ONTARIO -- A bar described as a haven for drug dealing and a nightspot
where adult movies have been shown illegally is about to have its doors
closed by the city.

Mi Casa Bar, 1511 W. Mission Blvd., had its conditional-use permit to sell
beer and wine revoked Tuesday by the Ontario Planning Commission. The bar
can remain open while the owner, Armando Pando, decides whether to appeal
the case to the City Council. He has until Sept. 7, but his attorney,
Armando Chavira of Woodland Hills, said an appeal is likely.

The commission heard testimony from an investigator with the Department of
Alcoholic Beverage Control that marijuana and about five pounds of
methamphetamine were purchased in May and June by undercover officers with
the state's Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement. Two people were arrested for
drug dealing, including one employee of the bar, said city planning
director Jerry Blum. The agent testified that the owner was aware that the
drug dealing was occurring, Blum said. The bar also came under criticism
from planning officials for numerous other violations, including showing
adult movies and having a live band. Police checks of the bar over the past
two years revealed several patrons who may have been younger than 21 but
did not have any identification, officials said.

Chavira questioned the revocation as going too far. He said there was no
proof that anyone in the bar was younger than 21 and blamed the showing of
adult movies on a customer turning on a television set.

As for the drug sales, Chavira said Pando was shocked by the allegations
that he knew about drugs dealings. One of the people arrested was not his
employee but a janitor who also cleaned other businesses, he said.

"Any time someone mentions drug sales and people go ballistic," Chavira
said. "I think this was unfair. The commission made a determination before
getting all of the evidence. It was all hearsay."

Marco Martinez, the city attorney who oversaw the case, said it doesn't
matter whether the owner was aware of the drug deals or not. The bar is
near a residential area and a place where drugs are sold creates a health
and safety risk.

Drug paraphernalia were found in a trailer behind the bar and a marijuana
plant was found growing on the property line, Blum said.

"Whether he knew drugs sales were going on there or not, he should have
known," Blum said. "It has to be operated in a safe manner. Take a look at
Corona and Riverside -- they have had fights at small bars like this, and
in the case of Corona, they had a homicide the other day. We have to
protect the neighborhood."

The lone opposition to revoking Mi Casa's permit came from Commissioner
Rick Gage, who said the board should wait six months to see if further
criminal charges are filed in the drug case, which commissioners were told
remains under investigation.

Pando, who has owned the bar for the past two years, did nothing wrong,
Chavira said, observing that his client had been questioned by authorities
and that no charges were filed. Drug dealing is prevalent everywhere,
Chavira said.

"It happens in coffee shops, nightclubs and bars," he said.

In 1999, Ontario police opposed issuing a permit to the 30-year-old bar,
saying that Mi Casa had problems with underage drinking and with patrons
serving themselves at the bar.