Sebastian's Owner Due For Arraignment June 2

The owner of , the event hall that was on April 2 following a "swinger" party, is due to be arraigned on June 2, according to the Johnston Police Department's report of the incident.

The Johnston Town Council is expected to conduct a show cause hearing at tonight's 7 p.m. meeting to determine whether the licenses held by Sebastian's should be revoked.

Steven Santilli, of 5 Brown Ave., faces a felony charge of circulation of obscene publication and show after undercover officers from Johnston and the Rhode Island State Police witnessed participants in a female wet t-shirt contest and a male hot body contest .

According to the police report, obtained by JohnstonPatch on April 8, officers gathered at the Johnston Police Department at 11 p.m. on April 2 for a briefing led by Maj. John Perrotta, where they learned "that there have been multiple reports of nudity and sexual activity occurring" at Sebastian's, the police report stated.

Two undercover officers — a female patrolwoman from Johnston and a male detective from the State Police — were given cash to use for the cover charge and beverage purchases; they entered Sebastian's at 10:40 p.m., unarmed, and with instructions not to acknowledge themselves as law enforcement officers at any time.

During their time inside Sebastian's, the undercover officers stated they witnessed the contests, with one woman wearing only a t-shirt. At 12:15 a.m., one of the undercover officers sent a text message to Maj. Perrotta to enter the building. While waiting for the team of police to arrive, one undercover officer saw a woman run to Santilli, who was behind the bar, "advising him that the police were here."

Santilli reportedly tried to stop the event as uniformed police entered the hall and ordered customers to gather their belongings and leave.

The undercover officers left the building with the rest of the crowd — estimated at nearly 200 people — and later gathered back at the Johnston Police Department for a de-brief.

Santilli was arraigned by a Justice of the Peace at police headquarters and released after posting $2,000 personal recognizance.

According to election results posted on the Rhode Island Division of Elections website, Santilli took the third-highest vote total of eight candidates for the state Senatorial District Committee in District 25 during the September primary. The top five vote-getters were named to the committee.