SLA: Casa Rica Offers Plea to Give Up Alcohol License

The State Liquor Authority has confirmed that Casa Rica - a sports bar on E Main Street that had its alcohol license suspended earlier this month and was due in court today - has offered a plea to give up its alcohol license.

Michael Jones, Deputy CEO of SLA, confirmed that the license holder agreed to surrender its alcohol license, plus pay a fee for close to a dozen disciplinary actions leveled against Casa Rica since it opened in April 2009. Due to the fact that the plea has yet to be accepted by the SLA, no hard numbers could be confirmed.

"The fact that they have offered a cancellation of their license is greater than any fine," Jones said. "From my understanding, the cancellation was key for the people of Riverhead."

Jones also added that a cancellation of an alcohol license differs greatly from a revocation, which very well may have happened had Casa Rica's license holder, Potrerillo's Corp., gone to court. If the alcohol license was revoked, the principal holders, listed as Carlos Moreno Bonilla and Margarita Moreno, would have been barred from applying for an alcohol license in New York again.

"It's kind of like life imprisonment as opposed to the death penalty," Jones said. "They can apply again, sure. However, the SLA is aware of their adverse history."

Jones said that the attorney representing the license holder, Lawrence Goldstein, offered a plea on Wednesday. However it remains to be seen if the SLA will accept the plea. Following a review of the plea offer by SLA counsel, the Board of Commissioners should vote on whether or not to accept the offer at its next meeting on Dec. 1. If the motion doesn't make it on the Dec. 1 agenda, a vote will occur on Dec. 15.

Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermilller said last week , detailing the excess amount of work the sports bar has caused the department, in the process putting the public at risk due to the amount of focus required at 65 E Main Street. Hegermiller added that since mid-July, his department has conducted regular details at the bar on weekend nights and early mornings.

"The vast majority of summary suspensions end in the termination of an alcohol license," said Bill Crowley, SLA's director of public and legislative affairs, before Casa Rica's first scheduled hearing on Nov. 9, which was postponed until Friday. Crowley further stated that Casa Rica's threat to public safety - heightened after a - had caused the summary suspension.

Casa Rica was charged with 10 counts of violations of the state Alcohol Beverage Control Law and Rules of Authority. A copy of the suspension order, including a list of the alleged charges against Casa Rica, can be found here.