Strip-club figure sentenced for groping woman

Frank Colacurcio Sr., the Seattle strip-club figure who has been in and out of prison for six decades, was sentenced to 90 days of home detention yesterday, this time for groping a waitress at Rick's strip club in Lake City.

The 87-year-old Colacurcio, whose first conviction for a sex-related offense dates to 1943, also was banned from Rick's for two years, a condition his attorney called "draconian" because the club is "very much a part of his life."

Colacurcio once oversaw strip clubs in Washington and four other states, making him a target of investigations in which he was convicted of skimming cash to avoid federal taxes.

Colacurcio has long laughed off alleged ties to organized crime and, more recently, has served as a consultant to Talents West, a Lake City booking agency that supplies dancers and waitresses to Rick's and other strip clubs. His clubs dwindled to a few in Seattle, Tacoma and Everett when he came under pressure from law-enforcement and liquor-licensing officials in the 1980s.

In a bizarre moment before the judge entered yesterday's hearing, the cellphone of an investigator for Colacurcio's attorney rang loudly in the courtroom, emitting the theme of the film "The Godfather."

At the conclusion of the hearing, Seattle Municipal Court Judge Ron Mamiya allowed Colacurcio to delay serving his sentence pending an appeal of his conviction. But Mamiya said Colacurcio must stay away from Rick's.

Colacurcio was convicted of fourth-degree assault last month by a six-person jury that found him guilty of groping Lauren Luttrell, a waitress at Rick's, which is owned by Colacurcio's son, Frank Colacurcio Jr.

Luttrell testified that while working at Rick's on Jan. 2, 2004, Colacurcio offered her $1,000 to go home with him, cuddle and "be lovey."

When she refused, Luttrell testified, Colacurcio pinched her left breast through her clothing, then pinched her right breast.

Assistant City Attorney Derek Smith, describing Colacurcio's actions as "egregious conduct of a sexual nature," urged Mamiya to sentence Colacurcio to the maximum term of one year for the gross misdemeanor. He recommended home detention, with electronic monitoring.

Smith said his office weighed Colacurcio's age against a record of convictions over 60 years, including tax evasion, illegal gambling, assault and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Colacurcio's first conviction occurred in 1943, when, at 25, he was imprisoned for engaging in "carnal knowledge" with a 16-year-old girl.

Most recently, Colacurcio was sent to federal prison for two years, after a judge found in 1995 that he violated probation on a tax conviction by fondling a woman applying for a job at Talents West. His attorney unsuccessfully argued for home detention, saying Colacurcio could die in prison.

Records show Colacurcio has been criminally accused of similar sexual misconduct in past cases where witnesses failed to appear, Smith said.

In the mid-1990s, two women brought separate civil suits against Colacurcio, alleging sexual harassment and assault while working for him. Both were settled for undisclosed sums.

Colacurcio's attorney, Gil Levy, asked for leniency during yesterday's hearing, saying Colacurcio had paid for dental work and car repairs for employees, among other kind gestures.

Luttrell tearfully told the court: "I am not alone. When you look in the past, I see many women like myself."

Colacurcio's conviction in the case is the latest in a string of troubles for Rick's.

Colacurcio and his son are subjects of a criminal investigation into campaign contributions made to three Seattle City Council candidates at a time the club was seeking to expand its parking.

Rick's also was recently labeled a "well-known, documented vice location" in a Seattle police disciplinary report about an officer kissing a dancer in the parking lot while on duty. The report said blatant illegal sex acts inside the club had reached unprecedented levels.

Seattle Times reporter Jim Brunner contributed to this story.

Steve Miletich: 206-464-3302 or smiletich@seattletimes.com