The event promoter for Saturday’s David Allan Coe concert has been charged with three counts of theft after Daviess County Sheriff’s Office detectives say he sold tickets to the event knowing the headlining act would not be performing.
DCSO Detective Brad Youngman told Owensboro Times that Jason Giardina, 52, of Mr. Bad Guy Presents event promotion company, notified Coe’s business manager around 12:30 a.m. Saturday that he had not sold enough tickets for the concert at the Daviess County Fairgrounds and canceled the headlining act. Giardina then continued to sell tickets until 6 p.m. Saturday, failing to inform customers that Coe would not be performing.
Youngman said DCSO deputies stopped Giardina after he left the fairgrounds for having no lights on a trailer he was pulling. He was unable to produce insurance and was driving on a suspended license and was arrested for all three offenses.
He was booked at the Daviess County Detention Center around 10 p.m. Saturday on a $25,000 full cash bond.
Youngman secured a warrant for additional charges, including theft and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, which were discovered in Giardina’s hotel room. Youngman served Giardina at DCDC on Monday.
Youngman said although social media posts have indicated that DCSO escorted Coe’s band off the fairground premises on Saturday, his office was only working security at the event. Giardina was responsible for telling band members to leave the venue.
DCSO is not aware of any refund available for those that purchased tickets to Coe’s concert.
“So much of this case falls under civil liability,” Youngman said. “The Sheriff’s Office is only able to enforce the criminal aspect of the law.”
According to social media posts, the Daviess County Lions Club Fair denied responsibility for the situation and said refunds are available through eventbrite.com.
“The Daviess County Lions Fair only rented the venue to the promoter,” the post read. “We do not have anything to do with the ticket sales. We are as disappointed with this cancellation as the fans are.”
Owensboro Times was unable to reach representatives of the Daviess County Lions Club Fair or Clarksville, Tenn. based company Mr. Bad Guy Presents.
