2 to Be Arraigned in Alleged Scheme to Have Dance Troupe Workers Killed

Two Newhall men who allegedly offered another man $50,000 to poison two employees of a male exotic dance troupe with cyanide are scheduled to be arraigned in federal court today.

According to federal prosecutors and court documents, Augustine Colon, 46, and his brother-in-law, William Barnes Jr., 31, hired a man to kill the business manager and master of ceremonies of the Adonis troupe, which is based in England.

But the man hired to do the killings turned FBI informant and helped agents record four of his conversations with Barnes and Colon, Assistant U. S. Atty. Jean Gilliland said.

Adonis is a group of mostly American male strippers who have recently toured South Africa, Australia, Hong Kong and England, Gilliland said. Barnes’ attorney, Paul E. Potter, maintained that his client had no connection with the troupe, which he said usually does shows “for wealthy older women.”

“My client has absolutely nothing to do with Adonis and nothing to do with these charges,” Potter said. “When the facts are known, Mr. Barnes will be vindicated.”

Colon’s lawyer could not be reached for comment.

Colon and Barnes are charged in a six-count indictment with conspiracy and using interstate commerce facilities, such as long-distance telephone lines, in an alleged attempt to arrange the murder of Steve White, the troupe’s Australian business manager, and Read Scott, the emcee. They each face up to 35 years in prison if convicted, Gilliland said.

After their arrests Aug. 2, a federal magistrate ordered the two released on $100,000 bail and confined to their homes. U. S. District Judge Manuel L. Real later overruled the magistrate and ordered the men held without bail, Gilliland said.

“We thought they were a danger to the community,” she said.

Court documents do not mention any motive for the alleged murder scheme, and Gilliland declined to comment on the topic or on whether the suspects were connected to the dance troupe.