LA HABRA : Bar Owner Sentenced to 120 Days in Jail

The owner of the Leaky Tiki bar, who has been battling the city over her entertainment permit, was sentenced Friday to 120 days in jail for hiding evidence after an attempted murder at her bar.

Municipal Judge Roger Robbins sentenced Janet Escobosa to serve the jail term and three years’ probation.

Escobosa said she posted bond Friday and filed an appeal. She refused to comment further.

A jury Thursday found Escobosa guilty of inducing two employees to give false information pertaining to the crime, Deputy Dist. Atty. Jeffrey Winter said.

On Dec. 31, 1992, a Leaky Tiki patron was severely beaten by five men, according to police. No arrests have been made.

Police Capt. John Rees said two employees called Escobosa and she arrived minutes later to take the victim to a hospital. She instructed her employees not to tell police that the beating occurred inside the bar, Rees said.

That same night, Escobosa and the two employees cleaned up the bloodstains inside the bar, Rees said.

The cover-up was discovered a week later as police investigated the case, according to Rees.

“That bar had more than its share of problems and that’s reflective of poor management,” he said.

City Council members in April revoked Escobosa’s entertainment permit, which allowed her to have a jukebox and pool tables. The council cited dozens of narcotics-related incidents, disorderly conduct, lack of security guards and numerous police calls.

Escobosa went to court to fight the revocation. A Superior Court judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing the city from enforcing the revocation. A hearing on the case is pending. In the meantime, Escobosa was ordered to hire two security guards.

When the city pulled Escobosa’s permit, the action capped a long battle between the city and the bar, Councilman James Flora said.

“For some time now, the courts have been kind of lax in these things,” Flora said. “But I think in this case that covering up a crime is a pretty bad situation and she now will have to face the consequences. I’m happy that it’s been resolved.”