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Police ticket woman for public nudity again

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By LORI PILGER / Lincoln Journal Star

Thursday, Mar 30, 2006 - 04:54:09 pm CST

A Lincoln woman who gained police attention in 2003, when nude pictures of her taken at a downtown bar showed up online, has again found herself in legal trouble.

Three weeks ago, police ticketed Melissa Harrington at Cheerleaders Bar for allegedly violating the city’s public decency ordinance.

Lincoln Police Capt. David Beggs said officers saw her hosting a show there, nude from the waist up.

Story Photo
Harrington

Related Link(s):


3.8.06: Internet model cited for nudity

Police say she violated the part of the city ordinance that prohibits the “showing of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering on any part of the areola and nipple.”

But Harrington said she wasn't doing anything wrong because her nipple and areola were covered with a light- to medium-pink paint.

She said she planned to fight the ticket and didn’t plan to change her routine.

Apparently she didn’t.

On Wednesday, police ticketed her again for the same thing.

Officer Katherine Finnell said a plainclothes officer went to the same bar and witnessed Harrington there, nude from the waist up, and rubbing against a patron of the bar as she danced.

Police cited her on allegations of public nudity, public indecency and prohibited sexual contact.

This time the bar owner and manager were ticketed, too.

The manager of Cheerleaders, John Caporale, and the owner, Dean Borgmann, both stood accused of permitting the sexual contact after having been informed that what Harrington was doing was against city ordinance, Finnell said. Caporale was taken to jail, but his bond was posted that night.

By Thursday afternoon, none of the three had been charged. The City Attorney’s Office was waiting for police reports.

Borgmann said he wasn’t at the bar when it happened but got a call to go there about midnight.

It didn’t come as a complete shock, he said. Police told them they would be keeping an eye on the place, and a plainclothes officer was there two weeks ago, he said.

But Borgmann said it’s still up in the air what they might be charged with, if anything.

“As far as we’re concerned, we did nothing wrong,” he said.

The other person involved in the alleged contact was employed by Harrington, Borgmann said.

Ultimately, he said, it would be a matter for the courts to decide.

Reach Lori Pilger at 473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com.


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Wm wrote on March 30, 2006 12:45 pm:
" Another law upheld. Between the rampent prositution and the nudity in Lincoln. What's Lincoln turning into? Glad to see the police were hanging out at the bar when that event took place. Better get that girl to rehab fast. "

 Seriously wrote on March 30, 2006 12:50 pm:
" What a waste of LPD's time. I would hope they would have more important things to worry about than what Melissa is wearing for the night. How many strip clubs here in town use the same body paint? I think the real concern here should be with the hookers around the 13 and E street area not Melissa who is runnning a legal business. From what I understand that area seems to be a problem affecting Lincoln residents to my knowledge what Melissa is doing isn't affecting any Lincoln residents. Hmmm... Sounds like LPD really knows how to effectivly fight crime! "

 Sylvia wrote on March 30, 2006 1:08 pm:
" "suspicion of public nudity"? This sounds fishy. I'm sorry, you are either nude in public or you aren't. This law needs to be changed so that hairy male nipples should be covered in public also. They are an abomination in the eyes of the Lord. "

 Veronica wrote on March 30, 2006 1:23 pm:
" I have an idea how about we stop harassing Melissa and try and stop the robbers or even make an effort and catch the fake cops!!! Don't stop Melissa we are behind you all the way!!!! "

 Tom wrote on March 30, 2006 2:00 pm:
" So why is it men can go shirtless but women cant? I have seen man breasts that are bigger than some womens, and believe me I really dont want to see them. So what do I do? I look away. Wow what a novel concept. "

 Jade wrote on March 30, 2006 2:00 pm:
" We Love You Melissa! Couldn't LPD find something better to do with thier time like maybe work on real crimes. After all she isn't hurting anyone or any resident of Lincoln. "

 Gary wrote on March 30, 2006 2:14 pm:
" I wonder when Lincoln will cast off its prudish view on sexuality and get with the rest of the world. It's a body part, who cares who sees it? At least a ban on smoking accomplishes something as it protects peoples health...in fact, the laws that actually make sense are the ones that protect people...what does a law against seeing a nipple do to protect people. "

 Stupid Girl!! wrote on March 30, 2006 2:35 pm:
" Find better things to do with your time and energy. Volunteer! Go to school! Get a hobby! Stop using my tax money having the city police to tell you to keep your clothing on. "

 jodi wrote on March 30, 2006 3:45 pm:
" What is wrong with that women? I am not sure, but I think she needs some serious counciling to figure out why she needs to expose herself like this - and, God bless her parents, I am sure they are proud ... "

 MSC wrote on March 30, 2006 4:25 pm:
" You know there is a difference between a bar and strip club. If she wants to be nude she can go to the strip clubs and be nude there. "

 What--again! wrote on March 30, 2006 4:29 pm:
" I think the little tramp needs to keep her clothes on in public and the bars/owners that allow this need to definately be ticketed! I applaud the LPD! I think she has some issues about herself that she feels she has to act this way to get attention. "

 Nemesis wrote on March 30, 2006 5:15 pm:
" Ms. Harrington is a genius. There's no way she could ever buy the kind of publicity that the LPD is giving her for free. I wonder if she's giving them a cut of her website proceeds? "

 Dave wrote on March 30, 2006 5:36 pm:
" The fact of this story are this. LPD has followed this woman around to 3 previous shows before they ticketed her.The night that she was cited she asked officers if she was in compliance with the cities ordinance and they said she was in compliance the law.This took place on a Saturday.By Wednesday they decided to issue a ticket.Why did it take 4 days to decide to write the ticket when you havn't broken any laws?Why or who is directing LPD to follow around a law abiding fellow citizen? This is not an issue of what Melissia is doing or bar owners or what patrons are doing.This is an issue of civil liberities... 8 hours of a city council debate of a resolution to protest the Patroit Act and not one of these civil libertarians has come to her aid yet. "

 iconoclast wrote on March 30, 2006 6:12 pm:
" Well, I don't know about you, but I am very glad we have no illegal drugs, no burglary, no car break-ins, no prostitution, noboby speeding, nobody running redlights, or any other crimes to occupy our police. This lack of crime gives them time to harrass a citizen who is harming no one except herself. Maybe we could draft those fake cops, because our police are wasting their time, which is our tax money. Somebody should be fighting crime. Even our churches aren't safe, but we have apparently unlimited time and resources to make sure no one sees a nipple. Give me a break! "

 cmat wrote on March 30, 2006 10:02 pm:
" if anyone has taken an art class you would know that people's bodies are not just a body but a form of art. i say let her do her thing it's not like she's killing anyone or threatening anyone. i think there are just some jealous people who wish they had her body so they try to arouse trouble in her path. LEAVE HER ALONE!!! i support you melissa!!!! "

 Lindsay wrote on March 30, 2006 11:51 pm:
" If this is what she wants to do, so be it. She's only hurting herself. If you don't want to see it...just don't go there! "

 Melissa Harrington aka Melissa Midwest wrote on March 31, 2006 12:48 am:
" Well thanks to all of you who said all the nice things about me, I really appreciate it! For the ones who don't agree with it that's fine we all have the right to our own opinions. I just would like to be treated like everyone else and that's it. If you are going to ticket me for this then ticket all the bars throwing events like this and the strip clubs. I am followed around even when I am not having an event or taking my clothes off and that is called harassment. I enjoy talking my clothes off and believe I look good naked. I run a very successful company and have accomplished a lot of things and I am only 23 years old. I don't expect everyone to agree with what I do and I wish I could explain to you why I enjoy doing it. Bottom line what I do is done in a bar where everyone is 21 years of age or older and know that I am going to be there half naked so I don't see the problem with it. If you don't want to see it then please go somewhere else! I mean there are so many other bars to visit in Lincoln. I agree on the real crime I mean if it takes 9 regular police officers and 3 undercover officers to give me a ticket then something’s wrong with this city. It's all about a certain police chief that does not like me and the fact that I am doing this in Lincoln or maybe it's that I make more then 10 times what he does in a year. Who knows but I am not going anywhere so get used to me! Melissa "

 whoah wrote on March 31, 2006 2:25 am:
" I cant believe that melissa is going to sue. thats just dumb shes not going to win. she needs to stop doing what she does and keep her clothes on in public. Its alright that she has a web site and gets naked in it but dont do it in public. i hope you get jail time "

 Silverhawk wrote on March 31, 2006 2:32 am:
" People wonder why she does it? Because she is making a killing off of it. People do a lot worse things for money and as far as I'm concerned this is nonexistent in comparison to some of things large corporations do for money. "

 idspud wrote on March 31, 2006 4:52 am:
" I know that the people of Lincoln cannot be that stupid. With a war raging in the middle east, soaring oil prices, out of control healthcare costs, outsourcing of jobs, uncontrollable borders, millions struggling to live under the poverty line, the threat of a looming bird flu pandemic over the horizon, and numerous bad guys around the globe bent on trying to kill our fellow citizens THIS is what captures the attention of the Lincoln Police Department? Where is the harm? A room full of consenting adults being entertained by another consenting adult in what would by NO STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION be construed as sexual contact. Her nipples were covered in accordance with the law. The REAL reason that the cops busted her is that she had hired a guy to pose as a police officer so that she could ridicule all of the attention that they were giving her. There were ZERO COMPLAINTS from anyone in the audience not affiliated with the police department. An absolutely awesome use of the taxpayers' money to protect them against all of this evil! "

 Give me a break already... wrote on March 31, 2006 7:54 am:
" Why doesn't she work at the Night Before? Not everyone really wants to see her running around nude. Maybe next time some jail time would help. Send her to Gale Pokorny!! "

 Grumpy Old Man wrote on March 31, 2006 8:20 am:
" Those who don't want to see this young lady's nipples needn't grace the establishment with their presence. My hunch is that she was born naked. Only those who were not have a legitimate complaint. apparently the LPD or someone in high places has a serious case of body non-acceptance. "

 GMP wrote on March 31, 2006 8:28 am:
" Maybe if the J/S stops giving her so much publicity, she wouldn't be so ready to take her clothes off. She is just using getting arrested for her "resume" for her website, and future career plans (I'm sure she has a bright future -- adult film star, prostitute, whatever). I doubt LPD is ignoring crime to ticket her, but this is what was reported on, not their other crime fighting activities. Those would be too boring to the public to care about. "

 Jon wrote on March 31, 2006 9:08 am:
" I have seen one LPD officer(off duty)sitting in an out-of-town nudie bar so don't let them take this "immoral"and "indecent"thing too far. And he knows who he is if he reads this. "

 Out of Towner wrote on March 31, 2006 10:22 am:
" I admit, I have been to the website. I am not a member, can't afford it. Hell, I don't even have cable. I found the website because of the 2003 ticket(s). For those of you whining about Melissa (a free American?), nobody said freedom is pretty (speaking of freedom not Melissa). Either you are for it or against it. There is no gray area. If you don't like it, try Russia. They love gray areas. People that complain about how other people excercise their liberty are quite pathetic. Whatever happen to, America, land of the free? Lastly, the attention is being created by the government, not the free American. "

 Disgusted mother wrote on March 31, 2006 11:27 am:
" "Patrons are not going to a "sports bar" to see nudity. It is disgusting and sad that this little Melissa needs that much attention" See really needs to look into a career is stripping!! "

 Rob wrote on March 31, 2006 12:10 pm:
" "I think for all those people who are condemming Melissa for what she does is rediculious, people calling her names or saying she has psychological problems, just because she likes to take her clothes off, give me a break, that's just stupid, and to be honest just a very ignorant statement. Look she is not breaking any laws and she is not violating the city’s ordinance. They are just targeting her because she unlike most people is willing to stand up and not back down and be bullied around. I commend her for that. I hope she goes fully threw with suing. Whether you agree with her or not, she has every right to do so. It's the US people, not some other country she has the freedom to stand up for what she believes in. It's not about money, I know people might think that, but if that was the case, she would have sold out to many of the Adult Magazines and Companies that have been offering her the cash and contracts to do some hardcore material. By the way incase you didn't know she turned everyone of them down. So there goes the "she's is just doing it for the money and publicity theory" She does it because she wants to and because she likes to be naked, and I guarantee if you had her body you would probably would to. I could see if she was doing it in front of children, that would be wrong, but she is at a bar with conselting adults who are 21 yrs old an up. The show is advertised so people know ahead of time what they are in store to see before they even walk in the door. For the people judging her for what she does, one your either jealous, or two how do I say this nicely, oh yeah, You're A Prude! If you don't like it don't go, period! Unless you know her personally you cannot make a fair assessment on what her motives are. Do I know her personally know, No I don't,I wish I did. I'm just going by the facts, stuff I researched. Fact 1 she didn't break any laws, despite wheather you think what she does is offensive or not. And fact 2 there is sufficient evidence that she is being harrassed by the LPD, and has every right to sue." Goodluck Melissa, and You've got all the support from me, and hundreds others here in East Tennessee. "

 Another Out of Towner wrote on March 31, 2006 12:23 pm:
" The LPD could have put those officers and city dollars to better use looking for the fake cops that are the real danger to the citizens of Lincoln. You've got domestic asaults, DUI's, rapes,underage drinking ,drug use, etc that should take a higher priority than harassing this young lady. Maybe a presumed bare nipple is considered a bigger threat there. "

 T4acres wrote on March 31, 2006 3:32 pm:
" Rob, for your enlightenment, Melissa is featured in the June 2006 Hustler magazine. It would seem that she does what she does primarily to make money. God Bless America and thank goodness for freedom. "

 regular joe wrote on March 31, 2006 5:45 pm:
" to all the ladies that think there is something wrong with Melissa, or she has self esteem problems, are you serious, she has a smokin body and she is proud, you are just mad that your husbands fantasize about her and think your overweight bodys are nasty, leave her alone and get a membership a curves on thursday nights so your husbands can watch Melissas live web shows. "

 Hey Rob~ wrote on March 31, 2006 6:25 pm:
" Take the slut to Tennessee with you! Maybe you two could hook up and you could be her manager or something! "

 D wrote on March 31, 2006 6:37 pm:
" If she gets to continue this the prostitutes should be alright to do what they do! If someone does not want to see them than turn your head! They are in it for the money too! This is the comeback response for those who feel Melissa is in the right! Lincoln has laws and if people are let to slide for their crimes and the laws will get out of control and Lincoln will be out of control. I like the response from the person about the NIght Before---that is where slime is supposed to work in Lincoln---So Melissa GO THERE! The customers that go there obviously do not have respect for themselves or their spouses. These guys must have issues too as they have to pay to see someone naked! MELISSA~ You need to get lost and leave LIncoln alone! "

 greg wrote on March 31, 2006 9:00 pm:
" If what Melissa did was against the law then the LPD better start inforcing the law equally. They can start by arresting every stipper and and strip club owner in Lincoln. They wear far less then Melissa was wearing that night, and do far more touching. What I dont understand is why Melissa was ticketed for supposedly doing something illegal and the bar manager was put in jail for letting it happen. sounds to me like the LPD cant make up their mind as to what they should do. As far as the people that dont like it you dont have to go and watch it. Remember its Melissa's rights that maybe taken away today but it will be your rights tomarrow and MY rights the next day "

 Liam wrote on March 31, 2006 9:14 pm:
" All of this over an adult female BREAST!!! Go to most countries around the world and it is routine for women to go topless on the beaches. And you know what? Nobody thinks a thing about it. Lighten UP everybody. The upset about this is beyond looney tunes. Only in Lincoln -- thank god I don't live there anymore. "

 Doug wrote on January 9, 2008 11:58 pm:
" Who the hell wants to see a her naked when chilling out at a bar? I surely don't! I'm glad she's getting what she deserves. If you want to be naked...go to a nude beach or a nudist camp! "

 Barry Mattes wrote on May 5, 2008 11:29 pm:
" I think this is a total infringement ofthe constitutional rights of the patrons, bar owners, and Melissa Harrington, who I know and am in touch with. This is really outrageous conduct, and the police need to be prosecuted on some Federal Charges, and by the way, I am a retired attorney here in Chicago. "

 Neil Rupe wrote on June 27, 2008 10:48 am:
" You Nebraskans should get a sense of humor. This lady is a blessing to your boring state. "

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