Lake Elsinore Man Cited In ABC Sting Operation That Used Underage Decoys

This story was written by local Patch editor Maggie Avants.

A Lake Elsinore man was cited in a Murrieta sting operation Thursday that targeted bars and eateries for allegedly serving alcohol to minors.

Ronald Roney, 28, of Lake Elsinore was cited at The Shamrock, 39252 Winchester Road, Suite 145, for allegedly serving an underage decoy.

Paul Little, owner of The Shamrock, confirmed he was aware Roney was cited Thursday, and that the employee will no longer work at the establishment.

“Obviously, everyone is supposed to verify ID,” Little said by phone. “On weekends we have security at the door, who check IDs. Everyone is supposed to be officially ID’d.”

In total, six establishments were targeted as part of the undercover decoy operation that involved agents from the Riverside District Office of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Office, according to John Carr, an ABC spokesman.

“The actions were the result of a minor decoy operation in which minors, under the direct supervision of Department Agents, attempted to purchase alcohol from six retail licensees in Murrieta,” Carr said.

“According to ABC agents, … ID was asked for at Shamrock’s Irish Pub …, but the alcohol was still sold to the minor even though ID was checked,” Carr said.

Those who sold to the minor face a minimum fine of $250, and/or 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first violation.

Others nabbed in the sting included Brew-Ligion Brewhouse & Grill bartender Marie Wray Summers, 33, of Riverside; and Michael Bain Lumalu, 22, of Temecula, an employee at Weston's Market Liquor, 40119 Murrieta Hot Springs Road, Suite A101.

ABC will take administrative action against the alcoholic beverage licenses of the businesses that sold alcohol to a minor decoy.

“That may include a fine, a suspension of the license, or the permanent revocation of the license,” Carr said. “We have to look at all the facts.”

Carr did not immediately know which other Murrieta locations were included in Thursday’s operation.

Minor Decoy operations have been conducted by local law enforcement throughout the state since the 1980s, according to ABC. In 1994, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that use of underage decoys is a valid tool of law enforcement to ensure that licensees are complying with the law.