CORRECTION, 3/16/06 - A story in Wednesday's business section about the Palomino Club contained incorrect information about real estate purchased by the law firm Gentile DePalma. The parcels contain 4.9 acres.
Palomino strip club sold to pay off legal fees
Owner named co-conspirator in murder case in which son is one of four defendants
Ownership of the Palomino Club is changing hands as part of a deal to erase a legal debt. Photo by John Gurzinski.
Luis Hidalgo Jr., who is named as co-conspirator but not a defendant in a contract murder case, is selling the Palomino Club, a nude dancing club that traces its history back more than 35 years in North Las Vegas.
Defense attorney Dominic Gentile, who represents Hidalgo in the murder case, said his law firm purchased the real estate. He said his son, Adam Gentile, is buying the Palomino Club and two other businesses licensed in North Las Vegas, subject to approval by the City Council.
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The elder Gentile said his law firm, Gentile DePalma, took the real estate for his legal fees.
"I'd have rather had the money," Dominic Gentile said.
Dominic Gentile said he and some partners also bought the $13 million trust deed, or mortgage, that the real estate secures. He declined to disclose the purchase terms.
Luis Hidalgo Jr., the owner of the club since 2003, is accused of being a co-conspirator in the murder of Timothy Hay Hadland. His son, Luis Hidalgo III; his girlfriend, Anabel Espindola; and two other men are charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation for murder. If convicted, they could be sentenced to death. The jury trial is scheduled for July.
Police allege the defendants met with Luis Hidalgo Jr. to conspire to kill Hadland last May on a road near Lake Mead. Hadland was camping with his girlfriend at the time when he was shot twice in the head with a .357-caliber revolver.
A Las Vegas police department report said Hadland was shot because he criticized the Palomino and its owner to cabdrivers, costing the club thousands of dollars in revenue from potential customers.
Hidalgo Jr. told an employee he wanted someone to "take care" of Hadland and said he would pay the killer, according to the report.
It was the second time the Palomino has been part of a murder case. In 2000, Jack Perry, son of the club's owner at the time, shot and killed an employee he thought was trying to buy the club. Perry pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 14 years to life in prison.
The Paul Perry family built the club in 1969 and it has become a landmark in North Las Vegas. It is the only alcoholic beverage lounge to permit nude dancers. Other clubs that serve alcohol are allowed to have only topless dancers.
The club's license was "grandfathered" to allow it to continue as a nude bar with alcoholic beverages, but the license with North Las Vegas expires in about 16 years, Luis Hidalgo Jr. said in an earlier interview with the Review-Journal.
The interior of the building is painted mostly red, has many mirrors and has an estimated 100 doors. One of the first stars was known as Susie Midnight. In 2004, a session of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" was taped at the Palomino.
After taking over the club, the older Hidalgo started an all-male nude act, the Palomino Stallions, to attract female customers. He continued to feature female dancers as well.
The Gentiles are expected to make a presentation during the City Council meeting that starts at 6 p.m. today.
Adam Gentile, member-manager of Hachiman LLC, is seeking approval from the North Las Vegas City Council for the transfer of the licenses from Luis Hidalgo Jr. to himself. There are three licenses: one for the Palomino Club at 1848 Las Vegas Blvd. North, one for Lacy's, which is in the same building, and a third for the Satin Saddle next door.
Dominic Gentile said he has purchased 20 acres of real estate, extending south from the Palomino to the corner with Tonopah Avenue.
