Attorney: Liz Rogers' charges could be dropped

Embattled Mahogany's owner Liz Rogers could have charges of impersonating a police officer dropped in a plea deal her attorney said he expects to be offered soon.

Clyde Bennett II, Rogers' attorney, told reporters after a brief court appearance in West Chester Township no details have been finalized yet. He declined to comment on whether he thought Rogers would accept a deal.

"I'm not going to discuss that," he told The Enquirer

When Rogers appeared for her pretrial conference Tuesday afternoon, she greeted media in the lobby with a big "hello," but after she passed through security she put headphones in and refused further comment.

Her misdemeanor criminal case was continued until June 16. Butler County Judge Dan Haughey said a "potential resolution" could be reached then.

"I will be there," Bennett told the judge. "As will Ms. Rogers."

Rogers is accused of telling a repo man she was a police officer and allegedly displayed a Cleveland police badge when the worker tried to repossess her vehicle.

This was the same day in March the city of Cincinnati cut a deal with Rogers to forgive nearly two-thirds of her $300,000 loan from taxpayers and agreed not to seek repayment of a $684,000 grant.

That money was used to start Mahogany's at The Banks, which closed last September when Rogers fell behind on loan and rent payments.

Bennett said Rogers maintains her innocence.

"Ms. Rogers did not state that she was a police officer (and) did not present a badge saying that she was a police officer -- she did not impersonate a police officer," Bennett said.

"So if she did not impersonate a police officer, somebody who is saying that she did, that person is either lying or mistaken."

If convicted of the misdemeanor charge, Rogers could face a maximum of 30 days in jail and a $250 fine.