Pleasantville council revokes license of Centerfolds a month after death of EHT teen

Supporters of Irving Mayren-Guzman await the results of the council meeting that decided the fate of Centerfolds.
Supporters of Irving Mayren-Guzman await the results of the council meeting that decided the fate of Centerfolds.

PLEASANTVILLE — The family of Irving Mayren-Guzman believes it is one step closer to seeing justice for the death of the 19-year-old.

Due to a history of incidents at Centerfolds Cabaret spanning several years, Pleasantville City Council on Wednesday night voted unanimously to revoke the mercantile license of the establishment, effectively shutting it down. Mayren-Guzman was assaulted by three men outside the club in the early morning hours of Jan. 23. It was the last time he was seen alive before his body was found in a nearby marsh two days later.

"That was an emotional moment for us," Eduardo Alvarez, Mayren-Guzman's brother, said about the outcome of the council meeting, "because we had worked so hard. We were out there (at Centerfolds) protesting for days and days. Even in the snow, I showed up with shovels and stuff like that to let people in.

"In this particular moment, just hearing all the yes's... that solidified that in the United States, we have a voice. We can be represented."

Several hundred people marched from Centerfolds to City Council — a route they've taken numerous times since the tragedy — ahead of the 6:30 p.m. meeting. Dozens of signs with Mayren-Guzman's face could be seen, as well as a few Mexican flags. The council chamber was filled to capacity with friends, family and other supporters; and the rest of the crowd remained outside awaiting the council's decision.

The session started with testimony by Luis Martinez, the friend of Mayren-Guzman who was with him in the club the morning he disappeared. A solicitor asked Martinez questions while a television showed surveillance footage of the two walking into the club. The sight of Mayren-Guzman in his last moments alive brought some in the chamber to tears.

According to Martinez, who's also 19, the two displayed their real IDs but were still allowed inside despite being under 21. When the two went to the bar, he said the bartender didn't ask for ID. He also claimed it wasn't the first time he had been there with friends.

"My current ID, the vertical one," Martinez said when the solicitor asked what he showed the bouncer at the door.

The attorney representing the owners of Centerfolds did not have any questions for Martinez about that night, but offered condolences to the family. He also said that due to an altercation in the club, the bouncers were obligated to remove Mayren-Guzman. Shortly after, the three men were seen assaulting him.

"I'm assuming they had a good time," the attorney said, "but the club had a responsibility to manage itself."

After an executive session lasting around an hour, the council returned for the public comment portion. Speakers included Alvarez, Atlantic City activist Steve Young and others.

Ed Weinstock, an Atlantic County-based attorney, spoke in favor of revoking the license due to the club's extensive history of incidents.

"(There have been) three calls for theft, calls for emergency medical services, a call for a burglary of a car, a call for a stolen motor vehicle, a call for a robbery," Weinstock said. "These are all the police calls that have just been made to go to the location of Centerfolds just in the last three years.

"Is it any surprise that we find ourselves here today? There has been a progressive deterioration that ultimately led to what has happened here."

Mayren-Guzman's mother, Zara Mayren, said she wants the club to close so no parent has to deal with loss like she has.

"This place is to blame for my son being murdered," she said to the council. "Him being a minor, they allowed him in. Not only that, but he was also served alcohol while being underage. Three men brutally beat him up at Centerfolds' property, and they did nothing to stop it.

"I only ask for a fair decision and for you to put yourself in my place, and to stop and think that it could've been any of your kids instead of my son that was killed. I demand justice. I don't want any of this to happen to anyone else."

No one from the public came forward to speak in favor of Centerfolds retaining the license.

After comments from the public, the council voted 6-0 to revoke the license. The chamber broke into applause.

Outside, the crowd cheered and played music for around 45 minutes. A few supporters used a microphone to address the crowd, expressing gratitude to everyone in attendance and to the Pleasantville Police Department for accommodating the family's numerous demonstrations over the last few weeks.

The family is still awaiting the results of the autopsy. The three men involved, Jamaul Timberlake, 30, of Atlantic City; John Hands, 24, of Pleasantville; and Garnell Hands 29, of Pleasantville, remain in custody. They've each been charged with aggravated assault.

The charges against Timberlake, John Hands and Garnell Hands are only charges. None of them has been convicted in the case.

"They were happy because we've been through it," Alvarez said of his parents after the vote. "Every day we go through it, we live it. Most of us, we don't even sleep because what happened to us is traumatic. It's a very traumatic experience."

As the crowd thinned around 9:30 p.m., Zara and a few others began to walk back to Centerfolds. They took with them a large speaker on wheels, and continued playing music as they sang down the road.

Ahmad Austin Jr. is a lifelong South Jersey resident telling stories within the healthcare and cannabis industries for Burlington County Times, Courier-Post and The Daily Journal. For story tips, reach out at aaustin@gannett.com.

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This article originally appeared on Burlington County Times: Pleasantville club has mercantile license revoked after disappearance