Rome nightclub owner charged with assault

Published: Friday, February 24, 2012 at 8:40 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 24, 2012 at 8:40 p.m.

A woman has accused a Spartanburg nightclub owner of assault.

The Spartanburg Public Safety Department has charged Joe Larry Wells Jr., 52, owner of Rome nightclub in downtown Spartanburg, with third-degree assault and battery for an incident that allegedly occurred Feb. 18 at his business, which also is listed as his residence, according to online jail records.

The woman told a police officer that Wells offered to give her a tour of the nightclub. She said she was led to the basement where Wells told her he had been watching her and thought she was sexy and asked to kiss her, according to an incident report.

The 23-year-old woman said she told Wells ?no,? but he kissed her on the cheek after she turned her head to avoid the kiss, according to the report. The woman told an officer she was frightened after the incident and wanted to leave the nightclub, according to the report. She claims she was told she could not leave, and that her purse was placed beneath the counter and not in the coat room, according to the incident report. The victim was later able to leave the nightclub and stated security personnel followed her to the parking lot. The victim told an officer she ran to a friend?s car and hid underneath, according to the report.

An officer spoke with the victim at City Hall where a written statement was made.

Wells was booked into the Spartanburg County Detention Facility a little after 7 p.m. Friday. He had not appeared before a judge as of 9:10 p.m.

The penalty for third-degree assault is a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both, according to a written statement from the Spartanburg Public Safety Department.

Source: http://www.goupstate.com/article/20120224/articles/120229760

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