MARTINEZ -  On September 14, 2020, Kimberly Beatrice Dixon, 52,  of Pittsburg was charged by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office for a violation of the Contra Costa County Health Officer Order related to COVID-19. In addition, Dixon was charged for operating Skorz, a bar she owns in Pittsburg, with a suspended Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) license. The case was investigated by California ABC agents.

Earlier this summer, on June 11th, the bar was open and patrons were inside drinking alcohol. The bar was not deemed an essential business and therefore not allowed to be open. In addition, earlier this year ABC suspended Dixon’s license for the failure to pay taxes.

“ABC agents have spent a great deal of time educating licensees about the emergency health orders and what and what cannot be done in California during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “When there is a clear and blatant disregard for the law, they send their cases to local district attorneys for prosecution.  In addition, ABC will likely  investigate additional administrative action.”

“Our Office has received hundreds of complaints from the public reporting non-essential businesses operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. These businesses are putting the public’s health in jeopardy by violating the health officer orders. These orders are necessary to stop the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. We will continue to investigate reports of violations of the health officer order,” stated District Attorney Diana Becton.

The bartender at Skorz, Carla Kacprzak, was also charged with a misdemeanor violation for the unlicensed sale of alcohol.