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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