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→The Strip Bar - Arety's Angels
In February 2003, Touart's son [[Matthew Touart|Matthew]], 21 at the time, charged nearly $6,000 at local strip club [[Arety's Angels]] to a credit card he had stolen from his father. (Grand theft charges against Matthew were eventually dropped after he completed a "life skills counseling course."<ref>"State drops charges against county administrator's son." ''Pensacola News Journal'', October 15, 2004.</ref>) The club's owner, [[Arety Sievers]], was contacted on Touart's behalf by an investigator working [[Escambia County Sheriff]] [[Ron McNesby]], who asked Sievers to follow up on the illegal use of the credit card. The Strip Club owner refused to refund the money despite allowing someone to falsely charge drinks and services from the club.
After an [[October 3, 2003]]<ref>"Arety Sievers on her facebook page"</ref> raid on her club by the [[Pensacola Police Department]], during which two dancers were arrested for illegal body contact with customers, Sievers accused Touart and McNesby of orchestrating the raid in retaliation against her. However, again this was just another fantasy by the strip club owner which was never substantiated. <ref>"Lounge owner blasts Touart." ''Pensacola News Journal'', January 9, 2004.</ref> Warrants for the raid, part of a sweep by the Department, were granted following "complaints of inappropriate behavior by dancers."<ref>"Two arrested after sting at local clubs." ''Pensacola News Journal'', October 8, 2003.</ref> The State Attorney's Office concluded on [[January 13]], [[2004]] that police did not selectively target Sievers' club, but "devoted far greater manpower and financing to the Arety's investigation than to the other five strip clubs following input from which could be attributed to complaints and issues with the Escambia County Administratorstrip club where it was alleged that drugs were being dealt there."<ref>"Arety's Angels wasn't unfairly targeted but got most attention, state report says." ''Pensacola News Journal'', January 14, 2004.</ref>
A grand jury convened on [[June 7]], [[2004]] to investigate the allegations, but declined to indict Touart or McNesby of any criminal wrongdoing for lack of evidence or any connection to the strip club investigation.<ref>"[http://www.sptimes.com/2004/06/11/State/Officials_not_charged.shtml Officials not charged in inquiry of strip club.]" Associated Press, June 11, 2004.</ref> However, a later story by [[WEAR]] revealed that the wife of one of the grand jurors was employed by McNesby at the [[Escambia County Sheriff's Office]]. What was not pointed out, was that the woman disclosed her position at the department and was still picked for the Grand Jury. In no way did she purjor herself in order to protect the Sheriff or Mr. Touart.
After the story broke, the 21-member jury released a statement asserting that, "in an abundance of caution," the juror in question had disclosed his relationship to McNesby and sat out deliberations involving him (but not Touart). The statement added, "To imply that one person could exert such an influence over the other 20 of us demonstrates an ignorance of the process, diminishes us all and casts doubt upon the entire grand jury system."<ref>"[http://inweekly.net/article.asp?artID=78 Nice Watchdog]." Independent News, June 25, 2004</ref>
