Arrest warrant issued for the promoter of music concerts at shooting complex

In October 2012 music concert promoter Alex Flores of something called Country Wild Entertainment brought the nation's greatest country stars--Tim McGraw, Dierks Bentley and Trace Adkins--to the Sparta Shooting Complex for a cold and rain-soaked weekend in October.

In recent days the Sparta City Council voted to file a lawsuit against Flores, doing business as Gorilla Grid Media, who has failed to pay thousands of dollars still owed to the City of Sparta and Sparta businessmen.

One complaint on behalf of a local businessman and an arrest warrant were initiated by the Randolph County State's Attorney.

The complaint charges Flores of failing to pay Butcher's Block Catering for catered meals on June 20, 2014, $5,849 for catered meals on June 21 and $356 for catered meals June 19 prior to a concert series last summer at the Sparta Shooting Complex.

Flores, who married and moved from California to Ava, Ill. three years ago, his wife's home, also faces certain civil actions.

The City of Sparta is filing a lawsuit to recover a $50,000 loan it made Flores for the Charlie Daniels Band concert and Fourth of July rodeo last year.

That note was due as of Dec. 31, 2014. Sparta city attorney Alan Farris will draft the lawsuit.

It will be the second lawsuit filed by a municipality. The City of Belleville is trying to recover $101,000 from Flores dealing with last year's bicentennial celebration in Belleville.

At the beginning of the paper trail is $65,000 loaned to Flores by a backer named Arlen Thies of Campbell Hill for a loan in December 2011, which was seed money for the 2012 concert weekend at the World Shooting Complex. Thies first loaned Flores $55,000, then gave him another $15,000 in cash. Flores repaid a small amount of the money.

As these revelations began surfacing because of the actions of the Sparta Council and state's attorney other creditors are said to be making inquiries.