Two more Grab-n-Go baristas charged by Snohomish County

EVERETT — Five women recently accused of engaging in prostitution at an Everett bikini espresso stand are not Bill Wheeler’s first Grab-n-Go baristas to be in trouble with the law.

Two baristas were charged earlier this month with indecent exposure outside the Grab-n-Go Espresso stand at 11323 Highway 99, in a county area south of Everett. The women are accused of showing customers more skin than permitted under Snohomish County’s ordinance, according to court documents.

Five baristas at Wheeler’s stand at 8015 Broadway in Everett were charged Wednesday with multiple counts of prostitution and violating the city’s adult entertainment ordinance following a two-month undercover police investigation.

Those baristas, whose ages range from 18 to 24, are accused of stripping off their undergarments and flashing customers. Everett police also reported witnessing the women charge customers up to $80 to touch their exposed private parts.

Wheeler, who owns at least four stands around the county, said the charges against the baristas at his stand in the city were made up to push through Everett City Council’s agenda to ban bikini espresso huts.

He also called the earlier charges against two baristas at his other stand bogus. The sheriff’s office is on a witch hunt, Wheeler said.

“There was nothing indecent on either of them,” he said.

The first incident was reported July 10 by a driver passing by the stand across from the Wal-Mart on Highway 99. She told Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies a barista in pasties and a thong was shaking her exposed buttocks toward the highway.

The witness told police she isn’t a prude, but the barista’s behavior and clothing were offensive.

The deputy questioned the barista, who at the time was wearing pasties and leather-type pants that exposed her buttocks from the waist down. She denied shaking her backside at the highway. The Snohomish woman, 26, pleaded not guilty to the charge Thursday in Everett District Court.

Another barista, 20, also denied an allegation of indecent exposure. That charge was made after a man complained to deputies July 31 that he hadn’t received 75 cents owed to him after paying for his coffee and giving the barista a $2 tip.

He told police it was his third visit to the stand. Each time he hadn’t received his change.

This time when he asked for the change, the barista insisted that her boss didn’t provide coins to give to the customers, a deputy wrote. The man told deputies the barista took 50 cents out of her tip jar and threw it at him, causing him to drop his coffee, court papers said.

The man told police he visited the stand just to see the baristas but was upset that they would automatically keep his change even after he gave them a $2 tip, according to the police report.

He told the deputy the barista’s nipples could be seen through her pasties. The man told the deputy it was the first time he’d seen that much of a barista at the stand, court papers said.

The Everett woman was arrested and booked into jail. She bailed out and later pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Wheeler said a “rogue deputy” harassed the women by asking them to stand up, turn around and bend over so he could measure if their clothing met decency standards. He also said the woman who complained on July 10 harassed the barista by driving up and down the street. He said the barista reported the harassment to police but they ignored her.

“I know for a fact these two girls aren’t guilty of anything and when you get to court you will find that out,” he said.

Wheeler said nothing illegal involving the baristas has ever happened at his espresso stands.

His baristas sign an agreement guaranteeing that they will not behave inappropriately, he said.

Wheeler called The Herald’s coverage of complaints about his stands hypocritical and one-sided. More attention should be focused on real problems such as drunken drivers, murderers and “hookers walking down Evergreen Way,” he said.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

Lake Stevens Sewer District wastewater treatment plant. (Lake Stevens Sewer District)
Lake Stevens sewer district trial delayed until April

The dispute began in 2021 and centers around when the city can take over the district.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

A salmon carcass lays across willow branches in Edgecomb Creek on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tribes: State fish passage projects knock down barriers for local efforts

Court-ordered projects have sparked collaboration for salmon habitat restoration

The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett council approves $111 million construction of sewer project

The Port Gardner Storage Facility, in the works for more than a decade, will help prevent overflows of the city sewer system.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.