All in the Family.

BEATTY NV — Even in the brothel industry there are standards.

In the 11 months since Guy Brenkman was granted a brothel license for Bikini's Gentleman's Club just south of Beatty, Sheriff Tony DeMeo feels the owner has violated those strict rules and regulations.

Brenkman owned a strip club in Peoria, Ill., before he moved to Nevada, where he wanted something to do with his retirement. He bought 80 acres at the junction of Highway 95 and the Beatty Airport Road where he built a brothel and strip club.

His latest problems started when he allowed the word “cathouse” to be painted in large letters on one outside wall of his building, a big no-no in this county. Another sign already reads, in large lettering, “nude girls.” DeMeo said brothels are limited to a 25 square-foot sign that can either say “brothel” or “house of prostitution.” The sheriff said Brenkman has since painted over the cathouse sign.

“I wasn't aware of what you could put up and you couldn't put up. I read the code wrong. As soon as the sheriff pointed it out to me, I painted it up,” Brenkman said.

The letters advertising nude girls the sheriff thought bordered on a violation, but they are still there and advertise his strip club, Brenkman said.

Then there was the poster that DeMeo said was posted in public view at Fort Amargosa and Nevada Joe's, two businesses in Lathrop Wells, showing a photo of a couple having sex, promoting Bikini's Gentleman's Club to truck drivers with free coffee, overnight parking, easy turnaround and free showers.

Prostitutes at rural brothels have often communicated with truckers on CB radios, but they aren't allowed to mention prostitution; it usually involves come-ons with offers of a massage or a hot shower.

Brenkman admits he made up some fliers aimed at truck drivers.

“I never intended for them to be distributed locally. I gave a handful to a half a dozen truckers and they ended up elsewhere,” he said.

Then after checking with Lt. Frank Jarvis, commander of the Beatty substation for the Nye County Sheriff's Office, it turned out the woman in the photo on the flier was none other than Brenkman's wife, who was working as a prostitute, DeMeo said.

“Prostitutes are independent contractors. They go in there for a limited amount of time. They do not keep these women constantly employed. They're in for a contracted number of days and they have to get them out,” DeMeo said.

Speaking of Brenkman's wife, he said, “She's not an independent contractor. She has an interest in the business. She's married in the business. That would be a violation of the Mann Act, which says you can't transport prostitutes over state lines.”

That would be a reference to the fact Brenkman transported his wife from Illinois to Nevada. But DeMeo admitted it would be stretching the interpretation of the law if Brenkman took his wife on a trip to California and back.

Brenkman said, “She can be an independent contractor just like the other girls can. She's doing it of her own free will and choosing. Both of my lawyers, they view it the same way. She's doing nothing wrong and we're doing nothing wrong. Unless it can be shown to me in black and white, then I'll change that practice too. I came out here to get along. I didn't do anything to buck the system.”

He said another prostitute at Bikini's has been working at the establishment for three months straight.

When it came to allegations he violated the Mann Act, Brenkman said, “my wife came out with me as my wife before I even had a brothel license. You can't stretch that she was brought out here for any illegal purposes.”

The sheriff and Nye County Commissioner Butch Borasky, the chairman of the county's Licensing and Liquor Board, said the matter has been referred to District Attorney Brian Kunzi. Brenkman could be called in front of the board for questioning.

Kunzi said there are allegations but it's still under investigation. He hasn't seen a report.

“I told him you better get yourself in line. This is not a finished matter. I don't know where we're going to go with this pornography poster,” DeMeo said.

Brenkman said he hired a local attorney who will advise him on the brothel ordinance.

George Flint, a representative of the Nevada Brothel Association, criticized Brenkman, who he said also declined to pay the $500 to join the association.

“They come out here with complete ignorance of the rules with complete unwillingness to follow all the rules and they get things messed up for all of us,” Flint said. “I'm afraid we're going to lose our business because of people like the Brenkmans.”

“It's a shame that people come to Nevada and think that anything goes and I'm not just talking about the brothel business,” he said.

Flint recalled in 2005 when former Nye County Commissioner Henry “Butch” Neth wanted citizens to vote on whether brothels should be allowed to operate in the county. It was later scrapped.

“You just don't rub this in people's faces,” Flint said. “Mr. Brenkman needs to know he's not selling cough drops.”

Brothels became an issue after brothel owner Joe Richards opened The Kingdom Gentleman's Club at a prominent location on Highway 160 and Homestead Road in Pahrump in 2004. Richards had already been criticized for billboards advertising massages at his Crystal brothels.

Richards' brothel business was placed in jeopardy once again when he pleaded guilty to a federal crime involving a bribery charge that involved a former county commissioner. He was allowed to keep his brothel and gaming licenses despite the conviction.

DeMeo said Bobbi Davis, owner of the Shady Lady Ranch, made waves when she went to court to push for the right to advertise brothels.

Down the road, Angel's Ladies brothel owners were hauled into court more than 10 years ago on allegations they were providing out-call services.

“This type of business is a highly privileged license where if they cause issues in the community they can say this is a thumb in the eye and they can start turning their back on a business that's been allowed to operate in Nevada for many decades,” DeMeo said.

Brenkman opened his business on 80 acres he purchased where Rupert Bragg Smith, the former owner of Spring Mountain Motor Sports, planned to build an Old West village with a bar and restaurant, and, closer to the Beatty Airport, another race track.

Brenkman hoped to attract clients flying in to the Beatty Airport.

Brenkman was able to obtain a brothel license Jan. 18. Nye County was sued in 2009 by applicants who were denied a brothel license to acquire the Chicken Ranch brothel.

Brenkman said he spent $1 million on his nightclub alone, which is attached to the brothel. He also built a residence there. After the license hearing, Brenkman said his business was far from churches, schools or parks.

Last January, DeMeo said there were no problems with Brenkman's criminal record and accountants didn't find any problems with his application.