Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Ketchum bar owner faces charges in Boise


By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

Ketchum bar owner Ted Challenger will make an initial court appearance on June 1 in Ada County Magistrate Court on a felony charge of tampering with a surveillance video at another drinking establishment he owns in Boise.

Challenger, 38, the owner of Dirty Little Roddy's on Main Street in Ketchum, has been charged by the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney's Office with one felony count of preparing a fraudulent document and two misdemeanor charges of serving alcohol to a minor.

Challenger, currently free on bond, was arrested by Boise police around 3 a.m. Sunday, May 6, as he was leaving Main Street Bistro, a bar he owns in Boise. Challenger owns two other bars in Boise, China Blue and another establishment named Dirty Little Roddy's.

Former Idaho Attorney General David Leroy, now in private practice and representing Challenger, told the Idaho Mountain Express on Tuesday that his client has pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges and will do the same on the felony count.

"Mr. Challenger absolutely denies that he altered or even submitted evidence to any law enforcement officer," Leroy said. "We're mystified by the charge and intend to press the prosecutor to present plausible evidence. Ted Challenger has been one of the best and most successful bar owners in Idaho in the past 15 years and strictly complies with all alcoholic beverage laws."

Ketchum Assistant Police Chief Mike McNeil said police have been called to Dirty Little Roddy's several times for disturbances since the bar opened in March, but have had no complaints about underage drinking on the premises.




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