EVERETT — A Snohomish woman is being accused of engaging in lewd behavior while serving up coffee drinks at one of the three bikini espresso stands she owns along Highway 99.
At least one of those stands is equipped with a stripper pole, according to court records. Edmonds police detectives say the owner and her employees gave sexually explicit dances and exposed themselves to customers. Undercover police also reported seeing the baristas allow customers to touch their naked breasts when tipping the women.
Snohomish County prosecutors Tuesday charged Carmela Panico, 49, with lewd conduct, a misdemeanor. Panico is listed as the owner of Java Juggs Incorporated, which consists of three bikini baristas stands. Two drive-through coffee huts are located in unincorporated south Everett and the third is in the city of Edmonds.
Six of her employees have been charged with misdemeanors in connection with the case. The women range in age 20 to 30.
Edmonds police began investigating Panico’s stands in October after receiving numerous complaints about lewd behavior. Investigators used a surveillance camera to record what was going on at the stands. The videos showed a range of illegal behavior, according to court papers.
Panico allegedly told one undercover officer she recently fired a barista for giving a naked pole dance. Panico allegedly went on to say that she could flirt with him and shake her breasts. Then she allegedly grabbed the pole, bent over and wiggled her buttocks at the undercover officer.
She told the officer she was the owner and didn’t want any “lewd” behavior at her stands, prosecutors wrote in court papers.
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