The Pennsylvania State Police filed criminal charges against the owner of the End Zone, a strip club on Skytop Mountain, after a two month long investigation. The area's only strip club is being charged with operating a 'bottle club' where prohibited, and of providing certain types of entertainment on the bottle club premises, according to state police.

The End Zone is a subsidiary of Red Zone Enterprises Inc., owned and operated by Larry Nagle. Nagle is being charged with a third-degree misdemeanor.

A bottle club is an establishment operated for profit, with a capacity of 20 or more persons, where alcoholic beverages are provided by the establishment or brought in by patrons.

"Basically a 'bottle club' is if you go into a club and are offered free alcohol, regardless of whether it was brought in by someone else or provided by the establishment," said an undercover state police officer who wishes to remain unidentified.

Huston Township residents voted in May 1997 for prohibiting the "operation of bottle clubs within the boundaries of Huston Township."

"This is a dry township, and alcohol is part of the cover charge. A referendum was passed, so people called and complained," said Arthur Ridenour, chairman of Huston Township supervisors.

"alcohol is prohibited in Pennsylvania where there is lewd, immoral, or improper behavior," said State Police at Rockview Officer Mary Mills, adding that a bottle club would be illegal in a strip club.

Employees of the End Zone have denied any liquor law violations, and one worker called the charges 'bogus.'

After paying a cover charge of $10 for women and $20 for men, beer is provided at the End Zone free of charge to anyone 21 years of age and older Wed. through Sat., at a 60-foot long bar in the rear of the club. The End Zone does not have a license to sell liquor. Employees said the complimentary beer is prohibited inside the club, and always has been. They declined to be identified.

Nagle was unavailable for comment.