The Pub's Owner Speaks Out
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Updated: 7:24 AM Jan 9, 2009
The Pub's Owner Speaks Out
Harrisonburg, Va.
Two restaurants are under investigation by ABC following Tuesday's deadly hit-and-run in Harrisonburg.
Posted: 7:14 PM Jan 8, 2009
Reporter: Michael Hyland
Email Address: mhyland@whsv.com
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More details are being revealed in the case of a deadly hit-and-run that killed a Harrisonburg mother of four Tuesday.

A second restaurant is now under investigation by the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. ABC is looking into possible violations at Finnegan's Cove and the Pub.

The Pub is under investigation for two separate violations, one of which occurred just hours before the deadly hit-and-run. The woman charged in the case, Bethany "Bess" Jones, worked there as a bartender.

Police say she admits to drinking at the restaurant with coworkers after her shift ended Tuesday morning. Under Virginia law, restaurants are not allowed to serve alcohol after 2 a.m.

"If we find a violation of the ABC Act and the board's regulations, then we will bring appropriate administrative charges against the license," says Roger Stevens, Special Agent in Charge at the Staunton office of the ABC. "And, if those charges are substantiated, then the license could be revoked, it could be suspended for a period of time, or the board could impose a combination of a monetary fine and a suspension."

The Pub's owner, Bill Royer, talks about what he says happened that night at the restaurant. He disputes parts of Jones' story and says no other employees were drinking after hours at the bar.

Jones says she drank at the Pub right after her shift ended early Tuesday morning, but after talking with employees, the Pub's owner says that's not true.

Royer says Jones was working as a closing bartender early Tuesday morning.

"There was a fellow bartender that was off-duty that was here that night socializing," says Royer. "Bess asked to get a ride to Finnigan's [Cove] after her shift."

Royer says she clocked out just after 1 a.m. On Wednesday, Jones admitted in court to drinking at the Pub before she left to go to Finnigan's Cove, but Royer says that's not so.

"While the employees were here, while she was here and the other two employees were here, there was no alcohol consumed at all," says Royer.

Royer says Jones came back to the Pub with her boyfriend and another employee so she could finish cleaning up and to balance the money for the night. Then Royer says her boyfriend and co-worker took off.

"There was an argument. She got upset. She decided to stay here and have some drinks along with drinking some place else," says Royer.

The Pub is already operating on reduced hours after Harrisonburg Police complained about disorderly conduct.

Royer says he's had meetings with employees, stressing that anyone caught drinking after hours would be fired.

As for why Jones' story in court and Royer's don't match, Royer says, "I think she's probably distraught. She's probably still in shock. I don't think she's putting her time frame together properly."

Jones has since been fired from the Pub. Royer says he and the rest of the staff at the pub want to offer their condolences to Sherry Anderson's family.


Latest Comments

Posted by: LP on Jan 9, 2009 at 06:58 PM

"Someone"--think of the concept of The Buck Stops Here. Royer is the owner, he's responsible for his business. The bottom line is that even according to him one of his employees was illegally drinking in his bar after hours and wound up killing somebody. It doesn't really matter if he knew, he's the one with his name on the license. If he wasn't on top of this, what else might be going on out there that poses a threat to the rest of us?
Posted by: someone Location: harrisonburg on Jan 9, 2009 at 04:05 PM

For sure Royer does not know what is going on with his employees after 2 am. Take it from a former employee. It was told that if any employee was caught drinking after work they would be terminated. If Royer has any fault it is trusting someone who is not responsible enough to handle the responsibilities put on them. All the blame should be on Bess and her BF because they knew the rules of ABC and the rules of the Pub, not on Royer.
Posted by: been there Location: waynesboro on Jan 9, 2009 at 12:37 PM

Have been there, have seen it! No big deal to anybody until something like this happens. Then everyone refers back to the ABC laws and tries to stay in those guidelines. Then place the blame on someone else if need be. For sure Royer knew what was going on with employees drinking after 2am. This time something bad has happend and it's time for him to take resposibility for not following the ABC guidelines. What was ok after hours and seemed harmless has now cost a life.
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