“Club Enhancement Fee” Health Club owner acquitted on 2 charges mistrial was declared on the remaining six

Posted September 12, 2012 11:04 pm by

 

HEALTH CLUB NEWS SIREN

Jurors returned “not guilty” verdicts  Club Enhancement Fee

The former owner of 509 Fitness gym in Kennewick was acquitted today by a Benton County Superior Court jury on two counts of theft. Jurors returned “not guilty” verdicts against Jason Ray Sleater, 35, on the first-degree theft charge and one count of second-degree theft.A mistrial was declared on the remaining six second-degree theft charges because jurors were not able to reach a verdict.The 12-member jury had to be unanimous in their decision on each count.Sleater had been accused by prosecutors of charging a $19.60 “gym enhancement fee” against 375 members of his gym without authorization.Defense attorney Scott Johnson, in his closing arguments Monday, told the jury that the state didn’t prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt against Sleater. He said the gym contracts allowed for his client to charge the fee and that criminal charges were only filed because a Kennewick police detective who worked out at the gym got mad about the fee and wanted revenge.The jury deliberated for just more than an hour Monday and all day Tuesday before going home still undecided.They continued deliberations this morning and indicated around 11:30 a.m. that they had a question. Attorneys on both sides were called back to court and that’s when the verdicts were read.

 

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