Madison committee denies bartender’s operator license after obstructing-citation and unpaid forfeiture

The Madison Alcohol License Review Committee voted 6-0 on May 20 to deny an operator license for Jonathan J. Williams, citing a municipal citation for obstructing a police officer and related court findings.

Police Captain Hartman told the committee the incident occurred during a December 2024 bar check at Lucky’s Bar on Regent Street. According to the police report read into the record, officers found an underage person consuming alcohol; the bartender on duty, identified in the report as Jonathan J. Williams, told officers the patron was a staff member, which later proved untrue. Captain Hartman said he issued a municipal ordinance citation that night for obstructing and provided the citation number to the committee.

The committee’s nut graf: committee members deciding operator-license eligibility are required to apply internal policy guidelines that disqualify applicants for recent offenses involving noncooperation with law enforcement. Williams’s citation for obstructing placed him within the guidelines prompting denial unless he could present substantial evidence of rehabilitation.

During testimony, Williams said he did not recall receiving mailed court notices and disputed aspects of the officer’s report, saying he did not expressly vouch for the patron’s age. Assistant City Attorney McReynolds and MPD staff told the committee the court record shows Williams pleaded no contest in municipal court in June 2024 and a $250 forfeiture was imposed and remains unpaid; McReynolds said that municipal ordinance violations do not appear on the state CCAP criminal record but are recorded in municipal court files.

Committee members debated whether Williams had been candid on his application and during questioning. Several members said the combination of the obstructing citation, the no-contest disposition and the outstanding forfeiture undercut his credibility. Alder Westra moved to deny the application under the committee’s guidelines for offenses involving lack of cooperation with law enforcement; the motion passed on a roll call (Alder Glenn — aye; Alder Veer — aye; Miss Farley — aye; Miss Westra — aye; Alder Figueroa Cole — aye; Miss Carter — aye).

The committee noted procedural options available to Williams after the decision, including reopening the municipal court matter and paying the forfeiture; staff said denial appeal and reapplication processes exist but could require additional inquiry by city attorneys for precise timelines.

The decision separates discussion (Williams’s testimony and the officer’s report) from formal action (the committee’s denial on policy grounds).

Ending: The committee recorded its reasons on the record consistent with the policy guidelines; Williams was informed about registering with the clerk’s office and about the outstanding municipal matter that must be addressed before any license could be issued if the committee later reversed or an appeal succeeded.