Majestic Sports Bar assistant manager appears in court - WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather & Sports

Majestic Sports Bar assistant manager appears in court

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COLUMBUS, GA (WTVM) -

Some may say the public outcry over the death of a 24-year-old college student at Majestic Sports Bar helped motivate authorities to seek charges against the establishment. 

Investigators testified Friday when they began to look into the bar's business practices they noticed they were operating without a license to sell alcohol, known as an ABC card, and allowing underage patrons to enter.

The owner James Weaver posted bond and did not have to appear in court Friday.

However, the man Weaver claims to be the assistant manager, Nathaniel Smith, pled not guilty to nine counts of letting minors into the bar and operating without an ABC card.

All are claims Smith denies.

"I did a scan quickly and found out there were a couple of ABC cards that were current in the whole club," Smith said. "There was nine people involved that night that were either shot or gave statements as witnesses of the shooting that were under the age of 21."

Several of the underage witnesses were in court Friday morning. They all denied giving Smith money or even seeing him in the bar that night… except one that testifies she saw Smith sitting in a chair by the door.

Smith denies being at the club when the shooting occurred and says he only went there after the fact to collect money.

Smith's bond has been set at $5,500. Weaver is being fined only $100.

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