A poll has been added between the pictures and the comments.
The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s office shut down the club Babydolls Saturday night for violating an order regarding the laws of Sexually Oriented Businesses. All employees were arrested and charged with a misdemeanor crime of operating the establishment without a license.
Exact wording of the
“NACOGDOCHES COUNTY SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS ORDER”
(3) ADULT CABARET means a night club, bar, restaurant, or similar commercial establishment which regularly features:
A. Persons who appear in a state of nudity; or
B. Live performances which are characterized by the exposure of “specified anatomical area” or by “specified sexual activities”; or
C. Films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides, or other photographic reproductions which are characterized by the depiction or description of “specified sexual activities” or “specified anatomical area”.
One of our readers suggested a poll and we think that’s a great idea.
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What a great local paper. Where I live the whole downtown could burn down and the story would be buried behind something about a local church having a barbequed chicken fundraiser!
What a bad thing to go through. The fact they took pictures on private property and posted them for the public to view is just wrong. I will keep you in my prayers. I hope things work out for you and I hope the people that did this will realize they should have gone about it in a different way.
Best Wishes
You mean report the news? Yes, how terrible.
…and to anonymous, actually, this will look good to those who actually do vote when it comes to elections. Also, unfortunately, some of these women were probably already living on tax dollars anyways, seeing as how this business was “under-the-table” pay..
I vote and I WILL NOT vote for Kerss. First he snubbed the Tea Party and now pulls this BS. I would rather vote Democrat than vote for Kerss.
FYI—in the 6 years I have been a dancer, we have become somewhat of a family; as I suppose most co-workers do. Working together with a common goal for years; sometimes decades tends to that. Through helping each other achieve good/bad marriages, deaths in the family, cheering on the college student and single moms, and YES ALOT OF LAUGHS. Until now, my family never was considered ‘under’ the poverty level to qualify for Food Assistance, and the like. My children will now receive free meals at school, which are deserved by many others as well. My husband (yes I have one) and I have always paid taxes. Does EVERY waitress/waiter turn in every tip?? Unless you have been working at this club, you have no idea what you are talking about. I now have another job, shame on my ‘lowdown, trashy, diseased’ self, as I seem to be perfectly accepted as a WAITRESS, but would return to dancing in a minute. As a waitress— (TIP: a lil flirt will get you a better tip) Who knew?
..and like I’ve said in a previous post, I did work there before, therefore I do know what I’m talking about. No, not evry single dancer here was receiving assistance, but some “probably” were. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t totally support this shut down..am mainly nuetral about it. Just that, IF others were the cause of this shut down by breaking rules that just couldn’t be proven in the first place, thereby giving others a reason to find this loop hole to shut down babydolls, then perhaps it was for the best…
I agree somewhat w/ “sfa”. As a former “employee” of th place many years ago, what sfa says is somewhat true, but, unfortunately, there are probably some , though, that have taken advantage of the situation and chose to use the place as a place to solicit w/out the “ligit” co-workers knowing.. perhaps it is that that’s ruined eerything for everyone… but, as it has many years ago, I’m sure at some time in the near futre it-the club- will be back again… and to those honest employees there, don’t lose hope, as I know it’ll be difficult getting a job now and , in some cases, supporting your families.. disappointed in those who might have ruined it for the “good folks”. Good folks being the honest and decent employees and honest customers alike…
Is there any news on this issue, or is the sheriffs dept. so embarrassed by this big mistake–that they are hoping it will be forgotten and ‘swept under the rug’ until election time? These people could be WORKING and NOW are living on tax dollars.
As An Ex~Dancer, I Feel For These Women Who Were Arrested… Everyone Thinks That Dancers Are Immoral People Who Don’t Deserve Respect. Most Dancers Are Women Who Sometimes Choose This Career Because There Are No Decent Jobs To Support Themselves And Thier Families. I Was Faced With That Situation Ten Years Ago When I Made My Choice To Enter Into The Dancing Scene. I Have Always Said Not To Judge Someone Until You Have Walked In Thier Shoes… Stay Strong Girls!
Been to Alam. for the past year, and only went to this club twice, but really ? Nudity? Somewhat nude? gotta be kidding. Had a great time with my friends and the girls and got a room dance in the ‘back’. Only difference in the back, was we got to talk in private and she sat/danced on my lap.
Still had on bandaids and her bottoms. Nudity? No. Still worth the time. Isn’t that the point? your local sheriff needs something else to do. Dance on girls! dance! We will come back.
Guess what? I just got home from BullFrogs….and I SHAKED MY BUTT, I ‘BOOTY-DANCED, I WAS WEARING A TANK-TOP AND SHORTS…..and I didn’t get arrested! We were in a ‘state of nudity’ I suppose. And I went to Taco Bell, and Walmart dressed the same way. I have been to Babydolls and I’m a girl (who never worked there), I found it kinda lame, cause i’m not ‘into’ girls, but the guy i was with, liked it and I left with him and he with me. Quit harrassing these people, it’s all in a state of opinion…every one has one just like everyone has an a**hole. geezz
Why does anybody care that they shut the place down? The majority of these women look like diseased hookers and look like they got beat with a rake.
ha, agreed man.
Guess you never wore makeup while crying? These as you say ‘diseased’ people make $300 a night. Can you say that? And judgemental people such as yourself are the kind of ‘people’ who got kicked out. The reason people care they got shut down, If you would read; is not your opinion of who works there, but it was shut down illegally. The lack of law—-affects YOU too.
I can’t say that I make $300 a night, but you know who does? Hookers!
Probably hookers do…but at a rate of $100 for a bj. in the alleys of houston, dallas, and san antonio, that would be ‘what’ 3 ‘customer’ per girl? this club employs over 20 girls who make $300 a night for the last 30 years? and the girls who were there last week are not the same girls this week. so if the money was an issue and all you had to do was ‘hooker’ 3 times and go home, why would you leave if that was your ‘thing’? perhaps, if you think about it these girls had been here night after night and some men actually enjoyed seeing a girl in a bikini dance and the rest of the time asked about their day, their kids (yes they talk about them), the fact they lost a job, politics, religion, the price of gas, whatever, TALKING, there are some men or women in this world who are willing to understand that conversation or caring about your ass at all is at least worth a tip. Tips range from a dollar to several hundred and it is ignorant to assume that sex/the promise of sex/bj/or anything of the sort was going on is ignorant on your part. Judge a book by it’s cover–miss a good book. Most Bibles are pretty plain until you look inside. There was nothing going on here. If you are a man and EVER looked at a woman in walmart or on the beach…….whether you admit it or not. You would see the same thing at BabyDolls. The issue here to begin with is and still is….you don’t like it, don’t go. Just like TV…change the channel. They were shut down by law enforcement, ILLEGALLY.
I would pray that a hooker makes more than $300 a night, given all the dirty details involved.
As for the dancers in this club, we are not prostitutes, nor has the club EVER knowledgably employed a hooker. If any dancer was caught doing anything sexual to/with a customer, the customer was promptly ejected and the dancer fired.
and yet, michael, u r probably one who got throwed out for soliciting and not receiving sexual favors as alot of disgruntled customers in the past have received. that’s right! ur butt throwed out the door!
mama desire…i know you! and your the s*it!
Haha, They could definitely improve the talent, but that doesn’t make it right that they shut the place down.
I talked to one of the employees of Babydolls and they told me that they were allowed to reopen and that they could wear bikinis or other outfits , but that they were not allowed to dance on the stage or in private rooms. In fact if they were cault dancing or shaking there hips that they would be arrested. WOW is this the 1950s and is Elvis still alive? THANK YA THANK YA VERY MUCH!!!
Hahahahahaha
That business plan is not likely to work unless they start selling beer and hot wings. On second thought even Hooter’s girls can shake their hips.
I suppose now everyone who has their pants down to their knees and any girl who shakes her butt, hiney, bootie…is in TROUBLE! oH ..watch the movie… FOOTLOOSE. Hmmm..the new Nac???
Okay Im hearing all kinds of stuff about drugs being found at this club. One girl who showed up after the raid started had some weed on her and supposedly meth was found in another girls car, OH my bad did no one let that out oops. Whats more interesting is that this girl was let out under another dancers name ( I dont know but I smell a rat ( SAM ). Anyway let me get to my point . I WONDER if you were to search every employee and there cars at the sheriffs office how may would have weed and other drugs on them. Sorry not tring to tarnesh the spotless records of the NCSO but just wondering.
Were coming over from crockett for the weekend for some fun and to check out the farmers market, been coming to babydolls for yrs. This is crazy. So shaki ur butt to music is illegal in nac? Wow must be shuttin down All the clubs? Can’t we vote too?
Its been one week, now what do we
seniors do with the freshmen? This is a tradition! Guess thanks alot! Why can’t we vote??
oooook, college town, no hooters, no dance club? Is this Glee?
Is the poll closed? I would understand that mutiple votes from one IM would be be banned, which is fair. But we have friends who can’t post. Please fix it.
I am in Center, Tx….and I come to this club. How come I can’t vote?
How are you to cast your vote when the poll’s have been shut down? I think this was wrong. These people need a job. They have bills, families to support and they also need to eat. We as GOD’S people are not the judge. I fill the sheriff and his so called officers need to lose their jobs. Thank GOD he looks on the heart of a person not on the outside. My prayers continue to go out for these hard working people.
The Poll is not working it seems. Perhaps this needs to be fixed.
I just voted. The poll works fine.
Was flippin’ through a boring Saturday afternoon and came across this show on Animal Planet called Pit Boss? Got sucked into watching the end of it, seems it is the pros/cons of pit bulls?? The ‘owner’ is a midget couple. Kinda a shorter Dawg the Bounty Hunter? Besides the fact that this warrents as entertainment, the midgets attending and participated in a Chippendale’s show AFTER showing getting a ‘wax’ job beforehand. Wow. And the comments of how he loved the adrendaline and how dancing is a great workout and very tiring, but could see how it is a confidence booster and good pay. And he was TOPLESS!! omg, primetime tv..when the kids are home..and in a ‘STATE OF NUDITY’ shhhhhhh so am I, really RIGHT now. Under my clothes. lol The NCPO is silly and a waste of taxpayers money.
Extortion (also called shakedown, outwresting, and exaction) is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person(s), entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime groups. The actual obtainment of money or property is not required to commit the offense. Making a threat of violence which refers to a requirement of a payment of money or property to halt future violence is sufficient to commit the offense. Exaction refers not only to extortion or the unlawful demanding and obtaining of something through force,[1] but additionally, in its formal definition, means the infliction of something such as pain and suffering or making somebody endure something unpleasant.[2]
Answers says:
August 23, 2011 at 10:33 am
Ah, OK so is this so called “titty tax” the reasoning behind all of this? The county wants more tax revenue so they are trying to force BD to pay this new tax, but first they have to be designated as a sexually oriented business. So they close them down then force them to pay more taxes and fees in order to reopen.
Sounds like extortion to me. Maybe the payoff Kerss is looking for are these new “fees”. I wonder what percentage of said fees would go to the Sheriff’s office?
Business tax that funds the COUNTY will go to the COUNTY for road and bridge, sanitation, welfare, homeless, court and court proceedings, and yes, law enforcement. Why go through all of this headache for a small percentage of funds that might allow Kerss to purchase the office new staplers.
Hey Jane just one guestion for you since you seem to defend the sheriff and his actions so much. That guestion is are you in fact Sheriff Thomas Keress?
Probably Codi “Pepper Spray” Kerss taking up for her man.
No I am not Thomas Kerss. Nor am I related to him or in any way involved in his family. I defend the law enforcement officers because I work very closely with them.
So did the taxpayers get their moneys worth for your lap dances and beer drinking?
Jane–I have read every comment on here. No I was not at ‘the club’ in question; although we always knew it was there. So What? I don’t understand why you ask why go this headache for a small percentage of”. This is a small business. I have lived in Nacogdoches all of my life. This building has been many businesses over the years. (at least since the 70’s). I personally don’t understand the headache either. I don’t understand why our new sheriff felt led to make this club his personal resposiblity when no one has verbally worried about it until now. I think why people are upset is everone thinks live and let live is okay until it affects me. At this time, I believe this business being the only one of its type in the county, how can our local law suddenly after 15 years change the rules to suit itself? Speaking of homeless, hungry, now these women and their families…ARE. I and my family will not be voting for Kerss. (sorry for my bad eyesight i can not spell and i am 72 and female). Long live free speech
It doesn’t matter if you are for or against this…the fact remains is that the Idiot Sheriff Thomas Kerss and his band of merry men broke the very law that they themselves have sworn to uphold and protect!!! They searched the place without showing a warrant, illegal search and seizure, illegal arrests, illegal presumptions of having to have a license, illegal to not read people their rights when being arrested, slander to the girls who have a stage name for a reason, etc. etc. etc.!!!! This list goes on and on! You even arrested a girl in the parking lot who was coming in with her boyfriend who was a designated driver for her boyfriend and who had not been drinking nor given a test to prove she had been drinking, but yet decided to arrest her for minor in possession of alcohol when it was clearly her boyfriends beer and he had admitted that it was his! Your crooked schemes and lies will come to an end Idiot Sheriff Thomas Kerss! Trust the county of Nacogdoches when they say they don’t want ya no more and your sorry a** is voted out of office!!! Even your own deputies and fellow officers of the law talk crap about you and your crooked tactics. Sad life for a sad boy…cause you ain’t no man!!! Just a boy with a badge!!!
While my personal opinion of our sheriff is not very high , I am not going to get on here or anywere else and slander him or talk personal about him. To do so would lower me to his level and I will not do so. I will admit that I have said some unkind things about him and believe that they are true the fact remains that Im a bigger man then that. The facts are the facts and truth is truth what he did and how he did it were WRONG and he knows it. The issue here is not a moral issue of whether or not such a club should be allowed to exist in our county , that my friends is a matter of personal opinion. Even if I was not an employee of this club I would still be in support because I for one enjoy watching women dance and find nothing wrong with it. Some of the best and most honest people I have ever meet work with me at Babydolls these people and me have our faults , but let those with out sin cast the first stones. I have said and stand behind the fact that I and my coworkers were wrongfully arrested and that all charges should be dropped. As I have said in other posts these women are not whores, sluts or anything of the kind they are wives and mothers who are only tring in this day and age to make a living. I encourage anyone out there that if you believe the actions of the sheriff were wrong to call his office , email him and let him know that he was wrong and when this goes to court show up and show your support .
Please explain how obtaining a warrant and searching a business is illegal. And please explain how arresting suspects who are obligated to retain a license is illegal seizure? You cannot, because none of this was illegal.
Please explain why you seem so mad and have such a problem with this issue? Do you work for the sheriff dept? Or perhaps you came to the club and asked for a job and were told you were too fat or ugly. Maybe your husband , boyfriend or girlfriend was a customer and your pissed about that ? Im going to explain again that we are a bikini bar and do not need such a lincense to operate. I would suggest that you get a life and stop believing everything you see and read in the press. BTW we will reopen and I invite you out as a special guest. Thanks and have a beautiful day.
I have never even considered asking for a job such as this. I believe in more productive, appropriate career choices. I am not “mad at the isseue.” In fact, I am not mad at all, since I agree with what has happened. I am merely dumbfounded by the lack of knowledge people are exhibiting on this page.
WHAT WARRANT?
Good question because they never showed us one.
Obtaining a warrant is not illegal. Enforcing the law is not. Understand this….PLEASE. Noone ‘obtained’ nor ‘showed’ a warrant. People were questioned without being read their RIGHTS. This is all on TAPE and VIDEO. Regardless of your personal opinion of this business, this is illegal. And there are over 30 witnesses. (Why were there supposed people at the club or in the parking area who were ‘arrested’ who were in fact currently at their JOB (AT A LOCAL BUSINESS FOR THEIR WHOLE SHIFT) nowhere near this club????? Pictures/guns/drugs/more people =bigger bust? more media? more votes? geez wake up
IF THEY VOTE TO REOPEN THE CLUB ARE THEY GONNA LET US IF NOT SHUT THE HECK UP
IF THE POLL VOTES TO REOPEN THE CLUB ARE THEY GONNA LET US IF NOT SHUT THE HECK
It is unfortunate but rules are rules. Now its time for the attorney’s to make their money. If I speed everyday on the loop and today I get a ticket am I being picked on and doesn’t the Sherriff have better things to do? Same thing. Now it’s time fro my attorney to earn his pay.
I think the issue is that there was NO speed limit sign set. The sheriff and his men were just in there three months ago and told the managers everything looked good and was up to code. The law that was given above is for full nude bars, this one was not! If the sheriff had a problem with the way the establishment was run, he could have mentioned it when he was there previously, or left a written or oral warning to everyone who worked there that they needed a license. So no one knew they were doing anything unlawful. It seems strange that he would wait until now to do this little “raid” when elections are coming up soon. Coincidence?
the supreme court has ruled siting the first and fourteenth admendments that these types of clubs have the right to exist. the case was renton versus playtime theater inc
Doesn’t this kinda remind you of “Larry flent vs. The people ” … Kinda funny, huh?
Honestly the sheriff said we became a prioity for his deptment . Really an older building outside the city limits were girls dance on stage became his priority. A club/business that has a business license and pays taxes is his prioity? I am so happy that our super crime fighting sheriff could overlook small petty stuff like rape, murder and thieft to make time for the real problam in the county like girls dancing on stage for tips. I have a question to those of you that seem to have such anger and hate for a place you clame to have never been . If you have never been to the club and dont have a clue about what does or does not happen why are you so mad and at the sametime so happy that we are closed? Has a place on the edge of the county really affected your life in a negative way? We keep our girls on the inside of the building , when they showed up to work they were in street cloths and when we closed at night they would leave in street clothes. It is this web site and other media outlets because of the sheriff that anyone outside the club has seen these girls . If you are offended by the way these girls are dressed in the pictures you can thank your local sheriff not us for exposing you and your families to such images.
Amen!!! I don’t want to live in a county or country where people can not mind their own business and just because you are in a ‘state of authority’ can do as you wish. These dancers apparently are on the ‘inside’ of a building (appearance?) what if they suddenly decided to tear down your home? Perhaps a ruler should be made as to what constitutes ‘an eye-sore’. Unmown yard, a potholed driveway, a broken chainlink fence, maybe that dead tree in your yard. This is private property. So is BabyDolls Club. It has not needed said license for almost 20 years. Was this to save face with the local community? I believe so. These girls are now out in the public eye and are not ‘lower’ than anyone else supporting their families. Sad that people would automatically assume there are drug addicts/prostitution going on here. Obviously not, none. Don’t be so quick to judge someone you know nothing about nor up until now, cared to know.
This is getting so stupid , all this going back and forth about was the sheriff right to close us down or was he wrong. As a employee of this club I stand by the fact that we were as a club NOT in violation of the law . Why did he have the media there before he arrived and why did he feel the need to arrest every one who worked there. If Wal- mart lost its license to sell beer but keep selling it would he go in and arrest all employees there? Why was it that Kerss was in our club 3 months before this and nothing was said or done about this? Why was no warrent or arrest afidavid shown during this raid? If this really is just a simple issue of not having a license ( btw no one told us before that we needed one ,not even Kerss when he was there three months before). Then should we have not been given to chance to get these license. I can understand closing a place down while this is taken care of . But again to come in and arrest everyone working that night is abuse of power and flat out stupid on his part. Im not tring to debate the issue of whether or not a place like Babydolls is sinful or an eye sore that is each one of yours opinion . Me I enjoy watching girls dance and enjoy having the freedom to do so. And at the sametime I pray and read the Bible Im not a criminal and I do respect law enforcement , what I do not respect is abuse of power and one man forcing his own opinions and views on everyone else. I wonder how many of you that are so happy that this happened are the sameones that we have kicked out for tring to get more than just a dance. These girls are my friends and they are NOT whores or slut they are daughters, wifes and moms who are only tring to make a living. Thank you to all who support us . To all my brothers and sisters who I have worked with stay strong justice will win and the truth will come out.