LEBANON — Drug agents who accused Bristol's dancers of committing sex acts for hire exaggerated the truth to justify a lengthy and expensive investigation that produced more prostitution arrests than the drug arrests authorities were after.

        That's what defense lawyer James Hartke alleged as Jana Ullman, a second dancer at Bristol's Show Club & Revue, went on trial Friday on three misdemeanor charges of prostitution.

        A jury acquitted another dancer of similar charges in July. The outcome of Ms. Ullman's trial, expected to continue today in Lebanon Municipal Court, could determine whether authorities pursue prostitution charges against other dancers.

        The prosecution changed its lead attorney, replacing City Prosecutor James Whitaker, who lost the last case, with his boss, City Attorney Mark Yurick.

        In opening statements, Mr. Hartke said dancers will testify that Agent Dwight Aspacher and Detective Dan Schweitzer could not have witnessed the alleged sex acts because they were simulated.

        “It was an act. It was an erotic message,” Mr. Hartke told the jury.

        However, Agent Aspacher, who works for the Attorney General's Office, testified that the sex acts he saw were the real thing.

        He said he was close enough — within a foot or two — to witness the acts, which occurred in a private room when Ms. Ullman paired up with other dancers to perform oral sex and other acts on each other during “couch dances.” The agents paid each dancer $35 to $40 for the private performances, he said.

        He said that out of 23-to-25 undercover visits to the club, he paid for 18-to-20 “couch dances” with money from the Warren County Drug Task Force.

        The task force had raided the adult club March 5 following a five-month investigation that started with a complaint to Warren County Prosecutor Tim Oliver that drugs were being dealt at Bristol's.

        The investigation produced more than 30 arrests, eight for drug trafficking. A dozen dancers were charged with prostitution and others faced liquor violations, including Bristol's owner, Giselle Wolfe, her husband, Terry Wolfe, and son, Pablo Guardiola.

        Task Force commander John Burke defended the investigation Friday. He said agents spent 42 hours inside the club, and that expenses paid for club fees, beer and private dances nearly matched what was spent on undercover drug purchases.

        “For the money spent and for the time spent, the return was phenomenal,” Mr. Burke said.

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