By Sheila McLaughlin
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LEBANON - The operators of Bristol's Show Club & Revue and the corporation will pay $12,000 in fines to settle liquor violations in the wake of a March raid on the adult business.

The deal, pounded out in 90 minutes of negotiations just before trial was set to begin Wednesday, called for Terry and Giselle Wolfe each to plead no contest to a single charge of keeping a liquor establishment.

Lebanon Municipal Judge Mark Bogen ordered them each to pay the maximum $500 fine on the misdemeanor charges.

The corporation, WFO Inc., was fined $11,000 involving 11 counts of illegal sale of alcohol.

The agreement spared Mrs. Wolfe's son, Pablo Guardiola, a University of Cincinnati medical school student who faced similar charges.

Authorities alleged that undercover liquor agents were served beers that they didn't bring into the club. The law prohibits the sale of alcohol where nude dancing is performed, but Bristol's operates as a private club and allows members to bring in beverages.

Bottles or cans are supposed to be scanned in by computer and stored at the bar, then handed out as customers request them.

City Prosecutor James Whitaker said liquor agents marked their beers but received others back. On another occasion, a bartender gave them an extra beer.

Mr. Wolfe, who has denied any wrongdoing, said he had reservations about pleading to any charge because he is not an owner. He said he fears the conviction may affect his plans to open a club in Las Vegas that offers round-the-clock gambling.

But, he said he and his wife agreed to the deal to help their son.

"It didn't feel right that our son should have been charged at all, and we wouldn't be able to get him out of it," Mr. Wolfe said after the hearing.

"With him being in med school, we didn't want it to hurt his career."

The Wolfes and Mr. Guardiola were charged with 22 liquor violations apiece two weeks after state and Warren County agents raided the club. Agents confiscated computers and business files, and accused more than 30 dancers, bartenders and other employees of bootlegging, prostitution and drug trafficking.

The raid came after a five-month undercover investigation sparked by a complaint of illegal drug activity at the controversial club. Mrs. Wolfe, who is president of WFO and owner of Bristol's, blamed the club's problems on employees who broke the rules. "People need to do what we tell them," she said.

E-mail smclaughlin@enquirer.com