Fresno Businessman Kirk Vartanian Arrested Again | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Fresno, CA | Watch Video Above for More Information on this Story |

Kirk Vartanian's attorneys called today a fiasco. They made plans to surrender Vartanian at 1:00 p.m. But instead of Vartanian walking through the jails front door ... investigators arrested him at a restaurant he once owned.

/*Kirk Vartanian*/ hoped to avoid being arrested for the second time. During the lunch hour ... investigators took him into custody at a North Fresno restaurant. /*Dan Bacon*/ is Vartanian's defense attorney. He said, "This was an opportunity to make a show in front of the public and they succeeded in it. Now let's see if they can make a show in court. That's where it is decided in a court of law where we have equal standing."

Vartanian briefly reopened a night club at /*Granite Park*/. But his legal troubles have nearly stopped his efforts. Vartanian is now facing 16 grand theft charges. All are connected to customers who purchased cars at the defendant's now closed high end dealership.

Action News obtained Varantian's arrest warrant. The document indicates former Fresno State Basketball Coach /*Stacy Johnson-Klein*/ is one of the victims. Investigators wrote Johnson-Klein: "... ordered a Bentley from Vartanian. The Klein's wired $225,000 to Vartanian, however they never received the vehicle, nor their money back after numerous demands."

Vartanian's attorney denies any wrong doing. "There's going to be a lot of things that are going to come out. There is no fraud in this case. There may be some money owed. We have never denied that," said Bacon.

Vartanian was previously arrested in June on domestic violence charges. He appeared in court and plead not guilty.