Desperados owner scheduled for court appearance

Posted: Dec 10, 2012 4:54 PM by Tonya LaCoste
Updated: Dec 10, 2012 4:56 PM

The owner of Desperado's Cabaret will appear before a federal judge Thursday. James Panos is scheduled for preliminary and detention hearings before Magistrate Judge Patrick J Hanna. Last week, federal authorities raided Panos' strip club on the I-49 service road in Carencro and charged him with maintaining a drug-involved premises.

Judge Hanna will decide whether there is probable cause before Panos' case is taken to a grand jury. Also, Hanna will decide whether to keep Panos detained until trial. The judge will take into account whether Panos is a flight risk or a danger to the community.

The U. S. Attorney's Office would not specify the allegations against Panos, but officials did say Panos violated a federal law that prohibits a business owner from manufacturing, storing, distributing, or using a controlled substance on the premises.