Latest news with #JohnLopez
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man takes plea deal in child sex assault, drug case in Longmont
A man accused of providing marijuana and vape pens to Longmont-area minors in exchange for sexual acts in 2023 and 2024 has accepted a plea deal. John Lopez, 23, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, distribution of marijuana, possession of a dangerous weapon and attempted human trafficking of a minor involving servitude. Eleven other charges were dismissed, including one count of trafficking a minor for sexual servitude and one count of child sex assault. Lopez is being held of a $3 million bond and his sentencing is set for Aug. 15. Lopez had another ongoing case from 2023 that he also accepted a plea deal for Thursday. He pleaded guilty to a count related to menacing. Four other charges — felony menacing, prohibited use of a weapon, child abuse and reckless endangerment — were dismissed as part of a global disposition. According to an affidavit, in November 2023, a victim told a Longmont detective she had met with Lopez, also known as Jay Barraza, in summer 2023 where she performed oral sex for two vape cartridges. The victim was 12 years old at the time of the alleged assault. The girl said Lopez picked her up and drove her to a parking lot in the Niwot area. According to the affidavit, the girl said when they pulled into the lot, she thought, 'I'm definitely gonna get murdered, like this is how I'm gonna die.' Lopez was the third co-defendant in the case to be arrested. Angel Gomez-Rubio and Fernando Pacheco were accused of meeting up with girls ranging in age from 12 to 15 and exchanging vape pens and marijuana for sexual favors. Pacheco is set for a sentencing hearing June 5. Gomez Rubio was sentenced to 97 years in prison after pleading guilty March 13 to 10 counts of human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude, five counts of attempted sexual assault, four counts of second-degree assault and distribution of marijuana to a minor. Pacheco accepted a plea deal last month and pleaded guilty to one count of human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude, according to court records. His 2023 case began when Longmont police responded to a drive-by shooting and a witness identified Lopez as the shooter, saying he was driving alone in a white BMW. Lopez was later arrested and several rifle casings were found in his car but no weapons. On the same day, police executed a search warrant on Lopez's home in which they allegedly found an AR-15-style rifle with three magazines, ammunition, more than 100 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, more than 100 grams of cocaine and 2.1 grams of crack cocaine.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bar-cee's closes, Duckees settles in Bucc-ee's trademark infringement lawsuits
Two Ozarks businesses are making changes in response to trademark infringement lawsuits filed by Texas-based travel center chain Buc-ee's. The first federal lawsuit was filed against Duckees Full Service Drive-Thru in Kimberling City on November 15, 2024. Buc-ee's sues Missouri liquor store Duckees over trademark infringement According to court documents, the lawsuit accuses Duckees of violating a Buc-ee's trademark by using a logo that closely mimics its cartoon beaver logo. It claims that Duckees logo uses 'the most important aspects' behind a Buc-ee's logo, specifically a smiling cartoon animal within a yellow-colored circle. Then in March 2025, Buc-ee's sued Barc-ee's, a travel stop in Marshfield offering a dog rest area, activities for kids, as well as coffee and drinks. In the lawsuit, Buc-ee's points to the Barc-ee's logo as mimicking their logo. 'For example, the Barc-ee's Logo copies Buc-ee's Logo's use of a friendly smiling cartoon animal oriented within a circle with a yellow background encompassed by a black circle. As other examples, the Barc-ee's Logo also copies the Buc-ee's logo with the use of a hat placed on a brown animal with a red tongue and black nose. And in many uses, the Barc-ee's logo includes the use of the similar Barc-ee's mark, even with the use of curving word-style, near the logo image, as Buc-ee's does in many cases when using the Buc-ee's Word Trademark and the Buc-ee's Logo together.' Lawsuit filed on March 19 in U.S. District court for the Western District of Missouri Southern Division The complaint for damages included two trademark infringements, two trademark dilutions, unfair competition and false designation of origin. The owner of Barc-ee's, John Lopez, responded to Ozarks First's request for response with a statement that says, in part: Buc-ee's suing Marshfield business Barc-ee's for trademark infringement 'My legal team believes we are not legally infringing on any trademarks. The remarks from a legal team that specializes in trademarks also believe that I could win if it went to trial, but it may not be worth the fight. Beavers are cunning creatures. Very rare does a small dog go into a fight with a big beaver and come out on top.' John Lopez, owner of Barc-ee's The latest court documents filed in the Duckees lawsuit appear to point to a settlement being reached. On April 17, 2025, the court said it had been notified of a settlement in the case. It states that the court is directing the plaintiff to file a notice of dismissal by October 15, 2025. The document also says if the settlement is not perfected by the October 15 deadline, the plaintiff must file a status report that includes an anticipated timeline. As of the publishing of this article, Duckees was still using its logo on merchandise and in social media posts. Nearly one month since the lawsuit was filed, Barc-ee's announced on social media it had made the decision to close. However, it seems a new venture, with a new name, is being created. While the business has since taken down its original logo and replaced it with a new photo of a smiling, the owner says the women behind the business are 'turning lemons into lemonade.' The post says a new business named 'The Bean & Bubble Babes' will be opening in the next 90 days at the same location as Barc-ees. Barc-ee's described the new venture as 'a bold new pop-up and event-based venture serving up bubble tea, coffee, lemonade, specialty drinks, and sweet treats.' The business also teased ahead to a brand new name, new look, and another location in the future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Buc-ee's sues Missouri gas station for similar name, logo: This isn't the first time
A Texas-based gas station and convienence store known for its friendly beaver mascot is suing yet another business for trademark infringement. On March 19, Buc-ee's filed a federal lawsuit against Barc-ee's, a business in southwest Missouri that offers a dog park, coffee and food shops and a Western-themed miniature city. Buc-ee's claims that the unauthorized use of its trademarks, including a smiling animal mascot, will benefit the Missouri convenience store at Buc-ee's expense, while falsely informing consumers that the two businesses are related. Here's what to know about the recently-filed lawsuit and others Buc-ee's has filed against small businesses throughout the country. Featuring sprawling gas pumps, large bathrooms and a countless array of Beaver-themed merchandise, Buc-ee's has trademarked its cartoon beaver logo and a plethora of retail products. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. Western District Court of Missouri, claims that the use of "Barc-ee's," in connection with merchandise and travel stop services using a "colorful imitation" of Buc-ee's trademark, is an infringement on the Texas-based business's rights. Buc-ee's also alleges that the Barc-ee's logo, which features a cartoon dog inside a pink car, wearing a hat within a yellow circle background, "mimics important aspects of the iconic Buc-ee's logo." Specifically, Buc-ee's references its merchandise that feature its beaver riding inside a red truck. The lawsuit also claims that Barc-ee's owner John Lopez was inspired by Buc-ee's for his business concept, referencing mention of the inspiration from a Barc-ee's news release before the convenience store opened. "Buc-ee's has invested heavily in innovation across the company to provide the best quality products and experience for our customers," Buc-ee's General Counsel Jeff Nadalo said in a statement shared with USA TODAY on Tuesday. "Buc-ee's will not be an idle spectator while others infringe the intellectual property rights that Buc-ee's has worked so hard to develop." On March 12, Barc-ee's announced on social media that it was temporarily closing due to "unexpected construction challenges." The convenience store, as of Tuesday, remained closed, as its owners assess next steps amid the lawsuit. "Although I prefer my business challenges to come with a side of coffee rather than a court summons, this is just a part of the entrepreneur game," Lopez said in a social media statement on March 24. "My legal team believes we are not legally infringing on any trademarks. Very rare does a small dog go into a fight with a big beaver and come out on top." Missouri's Barc-ee's is one of many businesses that the Texas travel center has sued for trademark infringement. Most recently, Buc-ee's filed a lawsuit against North Texas gas station Super Fuels, claiming that the Super Fuels' logo, which features a brown, smiling dog in a red cape set against a blue background, is too similar to Buc-ee's. Buc-ee's alleges that Super Fuel's anthropomorphic, cartoon mascot could be confusing to consumers upon first glance. "The vast majority of consumers encountering the infringing marks will consist of drivers who are actively operating motor vehicles and are thus incapable of providing anything beyond a brief glance at the infringing marks, which are displayed on the front façade of defendants' stores and on defendants' gas station canopies,' court documents state. As of Tuesday, the lawsuit remained open. In March 2013, Buc-ee's sued Texas-based convenience store Chicks, claiming that Chicks stemmed from similar concepts, including site and store design, product variety, construction and the logo. Though the Chicks logo depicted two smiling chickens, back-to-back, against a red, yellow and black background, Buc-ee's claimed that the logo copied Buc-ee's "iconic marks," like color, shapes and fonts. Though Chicks' lawyers moved to dismiss the complaint, Chicks ultimately closed in 2014. In 2018, Buc-ee's won a federal lawsuit against Choke Canyon, a travel center in South Texas. A jury found that Choke Canyon's alligator logo resembled Buc-ee's too closely, according to the Houston Chronicle. Choke Canyon remains open but with a different logo. In July 2023, an image of a Mexican convenience store called Buk-II's Super Marcado went viral on social media for its humorous replication of Buc-ee's iconic logo. But Buc-ee's didn't find the store funny. Razaaa no me lo van a creer!!!!😂😂 Posted by Ramon Montelongo on Monday, July 24, 2023 Though Buc-ee's threatened legal action, none was taken. Since, the Mexican convenience store has changed its name to Mini Super Buk-II's and changed its logo to a different rodent wearing a red shirt and sporting a mullet. According to Google, the convenience store is now closed. In November 2024, Buc-ee's filed a federal lawsuit against Duckees, a liquor store also located in southwest Missouri. Buc-ee's claimed that Duckees used a similar animal-centric logo on its merchandise −a cartoon duck wearing sunglasses in a green shirt and red bowtie, all inside of a yellow circle. Buc-ee's claimed this logo uses "the most important aspects of the iconic Buc-ee's logo," by including a cartoon animal, a yellow circle as the background and prominent black edges for the mascot. As of Tuesday, the lawsuit remained open. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Buc-ee's sues Missouri Barc-ee's for similar name, logo
USA Today
01-04-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Buc-ee's sues Missouri gas station for similar name, logo: This isn't the first time
Buc-ee's sues Missouri gas station for similar name, logo: This isn't the first time Show Caption Hide Caption What's the big deal about Buc-ee's? We take a roadtrip to find out Buc-ee's, a gas station convenience store chain founded in Texas in the 1980s, has developed a cult following online. Does it live up to the hype? McClatchy - Raleigh News & Observer A Texas-based gas station and convienence store known for its friendly beaver mascot is suing yet another business for trademark infringement. On March 19, Buc-ee's filed a federal lawsuit against Barc-ee's, a business in southwest Missouri that offers a dog park, coffee and food shops and a Western-themed miniature city. Buc-ee's claims that the unauthorized use of its trademarks, including a smiling animal mascot, will benefit the Missouri convenience store at Buc-ee's expense, while falsely informing consumers that the two businesses are related. Here's what to know about the recently-filed lawsuit and others Buc-ee's has filed against small businesses throughout the country. Why is Buc-ee's suing a Missouri convenience store? Featuring sprawling gas pumps, large bathrooms and a countless array of Beaver-themed merchandise, Buc-ee's has trademarked its cartoon beaver logo and a plethora of retail products. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. Western District Court of Missouri, claims that the use of "Barc-ee's," in connection with merchandise and travel stop services using a "colorful imitation" of Buc-ee's trademark, is an infringement on the Texas-based business's rights. Buc-ee's also alleges that the Barc-ee's logo, which features a cartoon dog inside a pink car, wearing a hat within a yellow circle background, "mimics important aspects of the iconic Buc-ee's logo." Specifically, Buc-ee's references its merchandise that feature its beaver riding inside a red truck. The lawsuit also claims that Barc-ee's owner John Lopez was inspired by Buc-ee's for his business concept, referencing mention of the inspiration from a Barc-ee's news release before the convenience store opened. "Buc-ee's has invested heavily in innovation across the company to provide the best quality products and experience for our customers," Buc-ee's General Counsel Jeff Nadalo said in a statement shared with USA TODAY on Tuesday. "Buc-ee's will not be an idle spectator while others infringe the intellectual property rights that Buc-ee's has worked so hard to develop." On March 12, Barc-ee's announced on social media that it was temporarily closing due to "unexpected construction challenges." The convenience store, as of Tuesday, remained closed, as its owners assess next steps amid the lawsuit. "Although I prefer my business challenges to come with a side of coffee rather than a court summons, this is just a part of the entrepreneur game," Lopez said in a social media statement on March 24. "My legal team believes we are not legally infringing on any trademarks. Very rare does a small dog go into a fight with a big beaver and come out on top." What other businesses has Buc-ee's sued? Missouri's Barc-ee's is one of many businesses that the Texas travel center has sued for trademark infringement. January 2025: Super Fuels in Texas Most recently, Buc-ee's filed a lawsuit against North Texas gas station Super Fuels, claiming that the Super Fuels' logo, which features a brown, smiling dog in a red cape set against a blue background, is too similar to Buc-ee's. Buc-ee's alleges that Super Fuel's anthropomorphic, cartoon mascot could be confusing to consumers upon first glance. "The vast majority of consumers encountering the infringing marks will consist of drivers who are actively operating motor vehicles and are thus incapable of providing anything beyond a brief glance at the infringing marks, which are displayed on the front façade of defendants' stores and on defendants' gas station canopies,' court documents state. As of Tuesday, the lawsuit remained open. 2013: Chicks in Texas In March 2013, Buc-ee's sued Texas-based convenience store Chicks, claiming that Chicks stemmed from similar concepts, including site and store design, product variety, construction and the logo. Though the Chicks logo depicted two smiling chickens, back-to-back, against a red, yellow and black background, Buc-ee's claimed that the logo copied Buc-ee's "iconic marks," like color, shapes and fonts. Though Chicks' lawyers moved to dismiss the complaint, Chicks ultimately closed in 2014. 2018: Choke Canyon in Texas In 2018, Buc-ee's won a federal lawsuit against Choke Canyon, a travel center in South Texas. A jury found that Choke Canyon's alligator logo resembled Buc-ee's too closely, according to the Houston Chronicle. Choke Canyon remains open but with a different logo. 2023: Buk-II's Super Mercado in Mexico In July 2023, an image of a Mexican convenience store called Buk-II's Super Marcado went viral on social media for its humorous replication of Buc-ee's iconic logo. But Buc-ee's didn't find the store funny. Though Buc-ee's threatened legal action, none was taken. Since, the Mexican convenience store has changed its name to Mini Super Buk-II's and changed its logo to a different rodent wearing a red shirt and sporting a mullet. According to Google, the convenience store is now closed. 2024: Missouri's Duckees In November 2024, Buc-ee's filed a federal lawsuit against Duckees, a liquor store also located in southwest Missouri. Buc-ee's claimed that Duckees used a similar animal-centric logo on its merchandise −a cartoon duck wearing sunglasses in a green shirt and red bowtie, all inside of a yellow circle. Buc-ee's claimed this logo uses "the most important aspects of the iconic Buc-ee's logo," by including a cartoon animal, a yellow circle as the background and prominent black edges for the mascot. As of Tuesday, the lawsuit remained open. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Buc-ee's sues Missouri travel stop Barc-ee's for trademark infringement
The Brief Rest-stop chain Buc-ee's has sued Missouri travel stop called Bar-cee's for trademark infrigement. The suit claims that Bar-cee's acknowledged that Buc-ee's was the influence behind the name. Buc-ee's is seeking an order to block the use of the logo and damages. Buc-ee's is suing a Missouri-based travel stop called Barc-ee's, claiming they are infringing on the popular chain's trademark. The Lawsuit Earlier this month, Buc-ee's filed the lawsuit in a United States court in Missouri. The suit says that Home Away From Home Dog Training, LLC opened a Barc-ee's travel stop in Marshfield, Missouri that sold food, drinks, pet products and more. It also offered EV charging stations and play areas. Buc-ee's says the company purposefully used and promoted the Barc-ee's name in a way that violates the Buc-ee's trademark. The suit claims that the name, the curving word style and cartoon mascot, which uses a brown animal with a red tongue on a yellow circle all mimic important aspects of Buc-ee's trademarks. Lawyers for Barc-ee's also cite articles about the business posted on the website saying that Buc-ee's was the inspiration for the Bar-cee's business. "Defendants are using the Barc-ee's Mark and the Barc-ee's Logo with full knowledge of Buc-ee's rights, and in bad faith and with willful and deliberate intent to trade on Buc-ee's substantial recognition, reputation, and goodwill," reads the lawsuit. Buc-ee's claims that the use of the name and logos "falsely indicates to the purchasing public" that they are in some way connected to or sponsored by Buc-ee's. The chain says that Bar-cee's "unlawful conduct" has been "intentional, willful, and malicious." Buc-ee's is seeking an order to block Barc-ee's from using the similar logos and marks and award a financial payment for damages, costs, and attorney fees. The other side Barc-ee's posted on Facebook that its team is working to reimagine its location. The owner of Barc-ee's says they are currently assessing if it is in their best interest to continue moving forward. "Being sued is a delightful addition to the business experience that none of my mentors got me ready for. It's like receiving a surprise gift that you never knew you wanted. This unwanted extreme team-building gift involves stakes that are high and 'trust falls' that involve legal documents and not people. Although I prefer my business challenges to come with a side of coffee rather than a court summons, this is just a part of the entrepreneur game. My legal team believes we are not legally infringing on any trademarks. The remarks from a legal team that specializes in trademarks also believe that I could win if it went to trial, but it may not be worth the fight. Beavers are cunning creatures. Very rare does a small dog go into a fight with a big beaver and come out on top," wrote Barc-ee's owner John Lopez on Facebook. The backstory Buc-ee's was founded in Lake Jackson, Texas in 1982. The chain of gas stations has since spread in the United States. There are 51 Buc-ee's in Missouri, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Colorado and Texas. This is not the first time Buc-ee's has been in a trademark infringement lawsuit. A North Texas gas station was sued by the convenience store in January. The Source Information in this article comes from the lawsuit filed in United States District Court of the Western District of Missouri Southern Division and Buc-ees.
