Cops Raid Couple-Swapping Sex Club

turnto10.com ^

[chance33_98]

Cops Raid Couple-Swapping Sex Club

More Arrests Expected

POSTED: 11:46 a.m. EDT September 17, 2003

BERLIN, Conn. -- A Berlin club featuring couple-swapping for the past eight months has been shut down by local authorities.

Police said "Mingles," a swingers club, violated the town's ordinance on sexually oriented businesses.

Sheri Rahaim, 33, and Theodore Rahaim, 34, both of Plainville, were charged with 14 counts of violating the town's ordinance on sexually oriented businesses. William Buganski, 28, of Southington, the club's bouncer and food server, was charged with two counts, police said.

Officers took down the names of all patrons in the club during the raid at about 4 a.m. Saturday. More arrests are expected, including the club's owners, whom police would not identify.

Swapping married partners is not illegal, but charging a fee for admission is. The club charged $60 per couple, police said.

Mingles also violated a Berlin ordinance by operating without a license and allowing sex acts, officials said. The bring-your-own-booze club allowed alcohol, featured enclosed booths and rooms, and lacked outdoor signs that identified it as a swingers club for adults only. All are violations of Berlin's ordinance.

Police were alerted after several nearby businesses reported that the parking lot at what appeared to be a vacant building was filled with cars at night, Capt. Larry Schubert said. The investigation was helped by information about the club on the Internet.

Police were surprised to learn of the club, Schubert said.

"We've had our dance clubs out on the highway, but nothing of this nature before," he said.

A handwritten sign on Mingles' door says the club is "closed due to an unexpected emergency."

[george wythe]

There is a big difference between going to a private club to have sex with two dozen married couples and having your name and picture plastered all over the local TV news and newspapers.

In the first case, because of their own self-interest, the swinging couples will keep the secret.

In the last scenario, everyone in town knows.

[freebilly]

At the end of the day, this is about other people dissaproving of how this group of consenting adults chooses to have a good time

They violated the law by charging admission and operating without a license, etc, etc.

They should have just done each other in the privacy of their homes and no one would have cared....

[Freedom2specul8]

I just had to ping a few of ya to this one... I just can't imagine.. Ugggh!

[Modernman]

They violated the law by charging admission and operating without a license, etc, etc.

You're right, but I'm sure most bars and restaurants violate some laws regulating their operation. I think the cops came under political pressure to shut this place down, so they came up with every possible violation they could find. If this had been anything other than a swinger-club, I doubt the police response would have been as severe.

[Ignatz]

Yes, there are a decent number of conservatives at swing clubs. Mrs. Ignatz and I can think of two right off the bat (wink-wink, nudge-nudge, say no more, eh?)

[Madame Dufarge]

Did someone light a cigarette?

Well, they didn't send in the SWAT Team, so I'm thinkin' not.

[Modernman]

Yes, there are a decent number of conservatives at swing clubs. Mrs. Ignatz and I can think of two right off the bat (wink-wink, nudge-nudge, say no more, eh?)

Oh, the question was rhetorical. I already know the answer :-)

[mr_snoopy]

Wonder how many people at the club are Republicans. A decent percentage, I would imagine.

You are probably right. Keep in mind, though, that CT Republicans are likely more liberal than a SC Democrat.

[Arrowhead1952]

Bill Clinton went to the wife swapping club.

Tried to trade Hitlery for another Monica.

The police came and arrested him.

[camle]

mebbe t'warn't a cigarette they lit?

[steveo]

"We've had our dance clubs out on the highway, but nothing of this nature before,"

Horizontal Mambo

[csvset]

the club's bouncer and food server

Offering someone a knuckle sandwich ?

[sr4402]

but that doesn't stop the busy-bodies. No advertisement, no "in your face signs", nobody being bothered - not one problem.

Right... how many cought a VD, got divorced afterwards, how many of their children were affected - lost Dads or Moms. No one bothered... ask the Grandparents, any children involved.

Take your head out of the sand.

[Modernman]

Right... how many cought a VD, got divorced afterwards, how many of their children were affected - lost Dads or Moms. No one bothered... ask the Grandparents, any children involved.

Shrug.... But should the state get involved?

[ItsOurTimeNow]

Who's the victim in this "crime"?

Just curious...

(Something tells me that if it were a Gay Bath-house, they'd be arguing a "Right to Privacy". Alas, straights don't have such a right.)

[kegler4]

Now if only we could catch all them people having pre-marital relations and oral sex America would be right again.

[Jeff Gordon]

I went to a wife swapping club once.

Me too. It was a good deal for me.

I have kept the wife I got in that swap meet for nearly 30 years. One man's junk is another man's treasure.

[King Prout]

you left your heart in San Francisco?

[King Prout]

dude, c'mere! the story is worth reading, but the thread verges on brilliant.