ALRC denies bartender Jonathan Williams an operator license after obstructing citation and unpaid fine

The Madison Alcohol License Review Committee voted to deny an operator license application from Jonathan Williams after police testimony and court records showed he was cited for obstructing officers during a bar check and later pleaded no contest.

The committee’s action came after Captain Hartman with the Madison Police Department described the December 2024 incident in which officers doing a bar check at Lucky’s found an underage person drinking and found that Williams had vouched for the person’s age. “Williams admitted to me that he had lied about Grant’s age to Sergeant Langfeld,” Captain Hartman said, reading from the officer’s report. The officer issued municipal ordinance citation number 181SSFB1K that night.

Committee members reviewed the municipal-court disposition. Assistant City Attorney Jennifer McReynolds told the committee the applicant had entered a no-contest plea on June 5, 2024; the municipal judge found Williams guilty and imposed a $250 forfeiture that remains unpaid and is now in collections. McReynolds also reminded members of the ALRC policy guidelines that flag applicants with offenses in the prior five years involving lack of cooperation with law enforcement.

Several committee members cited two issues in declining to recommend the license: the underlying obstructing charge and what members described as inaccurate or incomplete answers on Williams’ application. Assistant City Attorney Zillavy told the committee she had read the police report and noted Williams’ admission in the report, and observed the applicant’s statements to the committee were inconsistent with the record. “You stood before us and was not truthful,” she said during discussion. Members also noted the municipal forfeiture remained unpaid and that, even if the committee voted to approve, the license could not be issued until the court matter was resolved.

Alder Westra moved to deny the application under the ALRC policy guideline that flags lack-of-cooperation offenses; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll call vote (6 ayes, 0 nays). The clerk instructed Williams on his options for reopening the municipal-court case or arranging payment with court staff if he wished to pursue the license in future.

The denial record notes the committee’s willingness to consider rehabilitation evidence in other cases but emphasized members’ concerns about honesty on the application and failure to resolve the court forfeiture.