WFAA-TV

DALLAS - The state is trying to strip a Dallas nightclub of its liquor license in hopes of shutting down the club they claim is a source of prostitution and public lewdness.

"We have been inside to inspect Rick's Cabaret in a covert capacity and made a couple of cases of prostitution, public lewdness and TABC violations,"said Lt. Christina Smith, with the Dallas Police Department.

Now known as Rick's Cabaret, the club has changed names several times over the last decade. Now, for the first time, a judge will decide the fate of the club.

Dallas police say more than stripping goes on in at Rick's Cabaret. While known as the Penthouse Club, the club more than a dozen violations for prostitution. In 2006, the city eventually closed it down, but the owners kept the liquor license and opened it right up again as the Executive Club, which also had problems with prostitution. It too eventually closed, but also kept its liquor license and was eventually turned into Rick's Cabaret.

"Over the years, with the history of the club, we feel cancelation is going to be the best for the public," said Captain Sonja Pendergast, TABC.

Police said it has been frustrating trying to get the club's liquor licenses revoked or to close the business down since it takes years of investigations in order to get something done.

Police said they aren't trying to close all sexually oriented businesses. Instead, they just want the business to clean up its act.

"We are not trying to get rid of them," Lt. Smith said. "We just want them to be legal."

An administrative judge has been listening to ongoing testimony from officers and former employees during hearings that have taken place this week. It's the first time a judge will determine if it's time to pull the liquor license, and in the process, finally close the club's doors.

While the owners of Rick's Cabaret say they are new owners and have nothing to do with the people who owned it previously, the TABC said it's operating under the same license and police said it has the same criminal problems.

E-mail rlopez@wfaa.com