Attorney for dancers charged in nudity ban requests formal complaints

FOLEY (AP) -- Four exotic dancers charged with violating Benton County's anti-nudity ordinance didn't show up for their scheduled court appearance, but their attorney requested formal complaints charging the dancers with public indecency.

Sheriff's deputies ticketed the dancers from Sugar Daddy's nude dance club July 3.

Officials from the club on U.S. Highway 10 said they plan to challenge each ticket the club's dancers receive. Those court battles could determine how effective the county's nudity ordinance is.

The dancers will be arraigned once the formal complaints have been filed in Benton County District Court.

The dancers, ranging in age from 18 to 24, are the only four to have been cited for violating the county's indecency ordinance, a misdemeanor. A trial probably won't happen before fall.

Sugar Daddys, three of its dancers and its general manger are challenging the constitutionality of the ordinance.

At the first court hearing on the lawsuit filed by the club, U.S. District Court Judge Donald Alsop urged the county to ease enforcement of the ordinance until the federal challenge has been heard. No other dancers have been cited since the ordinance became law.