City accuses restaurant owner of hiding his criminal past

The new owner of a longtime Italian restaurant on Garden of the Gods Road is in danger of losing his liquor license for allegedly lying about his criminal past in city documents.

Lawrence Tillman, who bought Antonio’s Italian Restaurant in March, has been ordered before the city’s liquor board at 9 a.m. Friday for a suspension/revocation hearing.

When the restaurant changed ownership, Tillman, 42, disclosed he had been convicted twice of driving under the influence in Washington. But Tillman allegedly failed to disclose he had three misdemeanor convictions in El Paso County, one for second-degree forgery and two for third-degree assault.

“You have to be full, fair and truthful in your disclosures,” prosecuting attorney Anthony Moore said Wednesday.

Tillman did not return a message seeking comment.

Moore said the city doesn’t just take people at their word.

“A background check is conducted any time there’s submissions of criminal history records,” he said.

In his written complaint against Tillman, Moore said the restaurant owner should not be given a liquor license.

“Mr. Tillman has been convicted of ... crimes of moral turpitude and therefore is not of good moral character,” the documents state.

Tillman isn’t the only business owner at risk of losing his liquor license Friday.

Allen Norris, 62, who owns the Corner Pocket Fillmore, a bar and pool hall on East Fillmore Street, has been ordered before the liquor board, too.

The Corner Pocket allegedly “authorized or permitted” gambling on four separate occasions last year, sold alcohol between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m., and “permitted the removal of unsealed alcohol container from the licensed premises,” city documents state.
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