Hurley tavern owner sentenced

HURLEY — A 63-year-old Hurley tavern owner who had been charged with four cocaine counts recently entered a no contest plea to an amended single misdemeanor of possessing the drug.

Peter Zucco, of 603 Granite St., owner of the Alaska House tavern, was placed on probation for six months and was ordered to pay $418 in fines and court costs by Iron County Judge Patrick Madden.

Zucco had been bound over for trial on Nov. 17.

An arrest warrant was issued on June 12 for offenses on June 3.

Hurley police indicated two Ironwood area women filed a complaint against Zucco regarding a possible sexual assault that day, but no assault-related charges resulted.

James McKenzie represented Zucco and Fritz Schellgell was assigned special prosecutor in the case.

As a result of a plea agreement, three counts of manufacturing or delivering cocaine were dismissed.

Zucco will be required to report to Dan Johns, a representative of the Iron County District Attorney’s office, as a requirement of the supervision, paying $75 per month.

He was ordered to have no contact with the two women.

The Hurley City Council last year denied a liquor license for the establishment.

—Ralph Ansami