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BEAVERCREEK — Wallaby's Inc., the parent company of a now defunct nightspot, caused trouble for Greene County Commission candidate Marilyn Reid before it was sued for back taxes.

Shortly after the business opened in 1996, the Ohio Bar Association accused Reid of trying to conceal some of the company's investors on a liquor license application. The bar association eventually exonerated her.

Initial investors in the restaurant were Reid; ex-husband M. David Reid, a former county judge; their son, Nelson Reid; and friend Michael A Buckwalter, a former assistant prosecutor. Other investors included Dr. Keith Peh, a gynecologist convicted of molesting patients; and Peter Sung, a pharmacist arrested and later convicted for selling drugs.

Marilyn Reid helped file the initial articles of incorporation for her son, Nelson, and was listed as company president on 1996 liquor license documents, according to state records. Nelson Reid remained the statutory agent, or official contact person for Wallaby's, until June 16. Tony Peh, son of Dr. Keith Peh, took over as president.

Reid says she left the company in 1997 after her trouble with the bar association and held only a few shares up until she sold them about 18 months ago. "No one in my family has been involved with or an officer for 10 years," she said. "I am not a shareholder anymore and neither is my son."

But Reid, who is also the chairwoman of the Greene County Republican Party, continued to list Wallaby's as a name she did business under and a company she invested in on financial disclosure documents filed with the Ohio Ethics Commission in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Reid says those filings are a mistake that occurred because she copied past years' forms.

During the years Wallaby's has transitioned from a sports bar and grill into a bar and two eateries, Adam's Rib and Shades of Jade.

Management announced in 2007 both restaurants would close.

Weeks later, Reid loaned the corporation $100,000. She says that is her only connection to the company.

Tony Peh hopes to sell the property to settle the corporation's debts. The company hasn't paid property taxes since 2005 and owes Greene County $91,570.

The articles of incorporation for Wallaby's Inc. were revoked in 2007 for failing to pay franchise and other fees, records show.

County Auditor Luwanna Delany values the 10,500-square-foot restaurant and the two acres its sits on at $1.5 million.

Tony Peh said he is weeks away from completing the sale of the property. "The equity in the building far outweighs what we owe them," he said of the debts to the county and a mortgage company.

Reid said she hadn't spoke to Tony Peh or been told of the pending sale, but hoped the tax issue would soon be resolved.

"I'm sorry this is the situation because I'm embarrassed for everyone," she said.

Jonathan Hung, assistant Greene County prosecutor assigned to tax and other foreclosures, said a foreclosure case could take months.

The company was identified for foreclosure because it is one of the county's larger tax debts. "Wallaby's did come on our radar because of the size of the delinquency," Hung said.

Contact the reporter at (937) 225-2342 or cmagan@DaytonDaily

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