Man breaks into bar and opens it for business

Customers bellied up to the bar

A local newspaper report alerted a Placer County Sheriff’s Office Detective of a possible ongoing crime being committed in the Penryn area.

As Detective Jim Hudson read the morning newspaper he recognized an individual pictured on the front page as a local transient who has had numerous contact with the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.

The newspaper article identified Travis Lloyd Kevie, 29, of Newcastle as the new owner/operator of the Valencia Club in Penryn. Detective Hudson had knowledge that the Valencia Club had closed its doors and the liquor license had been surrendered to the California Alcohol Beverage Control board.

Detective Hudson responded to the Valencia Club in an attempt to determine if Kevie had obtained a new liquor license for the business. When Detective Hudson arrived at the Valencia Club it was open for business with customers bellied up to the bar.

No connection

Upon questioning Kevie Detective Hudson determined that he had no connection to the property and he did not have a liquor license. It was determined that Kevie was aware that the Valencia Club had closed because he had worked on a clean up crew for the previous operator of the business.

Kevie told Detective Hudson that he broke into the building and put an open sign in the window on July 16th, Friday night. Kevie started with a six pack of beer he purchased from a convenience store across the street and used his proceeds to buy more alcohol. He continued this process throughout the weekend, serving approximately 30 customers a day.

Kevie was arrested for burglary and selling alcohol without a license. A large amount of alcohol and cash was confiscated at the scene. Kevie was booked into the Placer County Jail.