Felony charges dropped against fire-breathing bartenders

Washington Examiner (newspaper) ^

[RatherBiased.com]

Fairfax County prosecutors have filed a motion to drop felony arson charges against two fire-breathing bartenders who were facing more than 35 years in prison apiece for performing flaming bar tricks.

Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Morrogh confirmed to The Washington Examiner on Tuesday that he dismissed three felony charges because he couldn't find any evidence that the Jimmy's Old Town Tavern barkeeps were trying to hurt anybody. Nobody was injured the night the men were arrested, but there was evidence that a paper airplane hanging from the ceiling caught fire and burned, Morrogh said.

"I'm not saying it wasn't dangerous, but they weren't trying to burn anything," Morrogh said. "They were just trying to do tricks."

Mixologists Tegee Rogers, 33, and Justin Fedorchak, 39, still each face three misdemeanor charges through the Herndon municipal court. The men could get up to a year in jail for each misdemeanor. A trial date has not been scheduled.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue spokesman Dan Schmidt said he could not confirm whether the charges had been dropped. He said the fire marshals are compelled to take action when they witness an act that is unsafe and against the fire code.

"They have to look at it like a worst-case scenario," Schmidt said. "Obviously, they thought what they did was appropriate."

Rogers and Fedorchak were hauled out of the bar in handcuffs shortly after midnight July 24 after they entertained customers by juggling bottles of alcohol and using lighters and matchbooks to spit out streams of fire.

[fire4effect]

Another out of control local government.

[Frank_2001]

They ought to change the name of the county to “Unfairfax”;)

[Rummyfan]

Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Morrogh confirmed to The Washington Examiner on Tuesday that he dismissed three felony charges because he couldn't find any evidence that the Jimmy's Old Town Tavern barkeeps were trying to hurt anybody.

Jimmy's Old Town... had many a beer there. There's also a great Russian restaurant just across the street with many flavors of vodka.