Olathe ? An Olathe club has been fined $2,500 for discriminating against Hispanics and serving alcohol illegally.

Mark C. Smith, president of The Brickyard Inc., pleaded no contest Wednesday on behalf of his company to violating civil rights and allowing the illegal consumption of alcohol, both misdemeanors. In exchange, a Johnson County prosecutor dropped a second charge of allowing illegal consumption.

District Judge Peter Ruddick then found the corporation guilty and gave it six months to pay the fine and court costs.

Police started investigating the case after receiving complaints that bartenders would not allow Hispanics to become members of The Brickyard, which is a private club.

Assistant Dist. Atty. Stephen Howe told Ruddick that two undercover police officers who were not Hispanic were served at the bar July 17, 2001, even though they were not members or guests of a member.

When an undercover Hispanic officer asked for a beer in Spanish, however, the bartender asked if he was a member. The officer then asked for a membership form and was told about a membership fee of $50, Howe said. The officer then left.

Smith told the judge it is not the bar’s policy to discriminate, but he would not dispute what Howe said.