It's been the center of nutter controversy for months. Now the Duncanville City Council thinks it has a way to halt activity at the Cherry Pit "swingers" club.

Council members changed the wording of a city ordinance to redefine a "sex club."

Such clubs are banned from the entire city except for an area off Highway 67.

The council modified the definition of "sex club" to include the types of sexual behavior prohibited in clubs where people are paying to attend.

They say the Cherry Pit — which operates in a house in a residential neighborhood — is in violation of at least three city ordinances. The council is moving closer to holding a hearing so they'll be able to shut the club down, but still let the homeowners remain.

A municipal court judge held off on deciding whether or not the city of Duncanville has violated the US Constitution with its ordinance banning sex clubs within the city.

Back in May, the city felt compelled to issue the ordinance when it became apparent a particular residence was operating as a place for swingers.

The attorney representing the Cherry Pitt, Edward Klein has said the city shouldn’t regulate private activities in a private home. The city counters, and says in its original ordinance, that the Cherry Pit crosses the line from public to private by advertising itself online

Also, they say it's a "public nusiance."

The municipal judge, Judge Kent Trayler, could issue his decision as early as July 8th.

The battle between a swingers club and the City of Duncanville is escalating. This after armed police officers raided the "Cherry Pit" over the weekend.

On Saturday night police from Duncanville and Cedar Hill used a battering ram to force their way inside the Cherry Pit. With their weapons drawn, officers executed a search warrant looking for evidence of prostitution and money laundering.

Police were also looking for evidence that the Cherry Pit was operating as a sexually oriented business and sex club in a residential area.

A witness said: There was a big group of people… wearing solid black. One was wearing a mask. We waited for the homeowner to answer the door, and then they started busting it in. They ran in the house carrying automatic weapons, pistols... everyone was basically terrified.

Police say they went in with guns drawn because no one answered the door. They seized at least $500 in cash, DVDs, CDs and Cherry Pit business cards. Police made no arrests and did not issue any citations.

According to the attorney for the owners of the Cherry Pit, the owners and some 55 people inside were terrified and thought they were being robbed.

Another sex club has been operating in a North Texas neighborhood and nearby nutters want it to stop. Sources have told CBS 11 News that La Maison Joue is a so-called "swingers" club that, until recently, met at a hotel in Dallas.

In recent months a swingers club called The Cherry Pit has been scrutinized by police, city officials and neighbors in Duncanville. The organizer of the club in McKinney says she has nothing to do with the Cherry Pit.

Elizabeth Grilley denies operating a sex club, but admits adults meet to have "consensual" relationships in the home on Cordova Lane. Earlier this month the Executive Director for Development Services for the City of McKinney advised Grilley she is violating city ordinances. Grilley would not consent to an on-camera interview, but over the telephone she stated, We aren't anything like the Cherry Pit.

McKinney Police and city officials met with Grilley on June 16 and again on June 21. Following those meetings, the city issued a letter to Grilley informing her that the club would be violating a city ordinance by meeting in a single family dwelling. According to city officials, Grilley has agreed not to have any more parties at the house. This week the club shut down its Web site and a moving truck was seen moving furnishings out of the residence.

The owner of a suburban Dallas swingers club is accused of storing and serving alcoholic drinks without a permit.

Duncanville police arrested Jim Trulock on September 5th. He co-owns the Cherry Pit and was released after posting a $1,500 bond.

The Dallas Morning News reports officials allege Trulock and club co-owner Julie M. Norris violated the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code.

Trulock's attorney Ed Klein tells The Associated Press he thinks: it's just something else in a long line of things that the city of Duncanville is doing to run him out town.

Duncanville officials report both of the owners of a neighborhood swingers club have been arrested on charges associated with operating an unregistered club.

Julie Norris was arrested at the Cherry Pit Wednesday and is currently being held at the Duncanville Police Department Jail.

Norris runs the Cherry Pit with Jim Trulock. He was arrested on the same charges two weeks ago and has since been released from jail.

Warrants for their arrests were issued after Duncanville police confiscated business records, alcoholic beverages and other evidence in July.

The charges carry a one-year jail sentence and a fine of up to $4,000.

The owners of the Cherry Pit, a swingers club in Duncanville, are in trouble with the law again.

Owners James Trulock and Julie Norris were arrested late this week on suspicion of money laundering, a second degree felony.

If convicted, they could face two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

The Duncanville city council approved an ordinance this past year prohibiting sexually oriented businesses within the city limits. City leaders said the Cherry Pit, a home near Interstate 20 and North Cedar Ridge Drive where Trulock and Norris hosted swingers parties, qualifies as a sexually oriented business because it takes money at the door.

 

A man 'illegally' used his home to run a sex club in his quiet suburban Dallas neighborhood, a municipal jury ruled Tuesday.

Jim Trulock was found guilty on five counts of operating a sexually oriented business without a permit and five counts of operating a sex club, all misdemeanors. He faces $7,500 in fines, but he also has pending criminal charges tied to his weekend swinger parties.

He also was charged with suspicion of engaging in organized criminal activity, a felony that carries a sentence of five to 99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000. A court date for that charge has not been set.

Attorneys for Trulock said his home was not a business, but rather a private residence where friends socialized. A Web site advertising the weekend parties at The Cherry Pit showed a room of beds grouped together and underwear hanging above a bar.

City prosecutors contended that the Web site and admission charges proved the home was being used as a business. Trulock's attorneys said the money came from voluntary donations.